Praying & Interceding

It has become such a general and cliche for us to say:
"I'll be praying for that."
"I've been praying for you."
"Yeah, I'll pray about that."

...But are we actually following through?

I have found myself even doing it. I claim to be praying for something, I claim that I will pray for something--but when it comes to praying, I don't actually pray about it. Somehow, "I've been praying about that" has (sometimes) transferred into "Yeah, that came across my mind the other day." or something along those lines.

I have felt really challenged lately to actually follow through on prayer. Not just before bed, not just before meals, not just in times of trouble, but in and at every moment in my every day. Whether I be in the car, in bed before I start my day, in the shower, making lunch, or getting dressed.

I could write a whole post on how blessed we are to even have the tool and choice of prayer to connect ourselves to Christ in such an intimate way, but for now I just want to focus on the sole act of praying as well as interceding.

This world is broken. We all have issues, we all have trials, we all have pain, we all have struggles, we all have things bringing us down, we all have hopes, we all have dreams, we all have desires--and it is in those moments that we should be praying. In the happiness, in the joy, in the unsure moments, and in the certain moments. Not only do I believe we should be praying individually, but surrounding one another as the body of Christ in support and love and praying with and for one another.

I have felt challenged to lay down my time, to lay down what makes me comfortable, and to really pray and intercede for not only my own life and circumstances, but for others as well. I believe it is our part in our roles of the kingdom of God to join with one another in prayer--whether it be with or for one another.

2 Corinthians 1:4 says:
"who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God."

John 15:13 says:
"Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends."

Job 42:10 says:
"After Job had prayed for his friends, the LORD restored his fortunes and gave him twice as much as he had before."

Romans 8:26-27 says:
"In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God."

Hebrews 7:25 says:
"Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them." 

I am inspired to pray and intercede for the body of Christ--I believe my role is to do so.

Please, let me know if there is anything I can be praying for you for (you can send it to me anonymously or not). I promise you it will be on my list and I will follow through.

Prayer is not thinking.
Prayer is communicating.

Here's to living the destined life..