Breakfast With Christ - The Power Of Intercessory Prayer

BREAKFAST WITH CHRIST

TOPIC: THE POWER OF INTERCESSORY PRAYER

SCRIPTURE: Acts 12:5

"So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him."

We all do pray for ourselves often. But how often do we pray for others? When our friends are in trouble, do we only sympathize with them or do we also pray for them?

Some years after Jesus left the earth, the disciples continued to face so much persecution in the hands of the Romans. It was around this time that Stephen was killed. Later, Herod also killed James. When he realized that it pleased the Jews, he arrested the head of the church, Peter and imprisoned him.

During the trial of Stephen and James, it wasn't recorded if the church prayed for them. But when Peter was imprisoned, the church decided they have had enough and they decided to intercede for him.

A day before Peter would be killed, God intervened and sent an angel to rescue Peter. I am sure Peter himself was in prison thinking he would die just like Stephen and James. Unknown to him, the church was constantly praying for him.

We are not sure if God would still have saved him if the church hadn't prayed for him, what we are sure of is that they interceded for him and God intervened. There is power in intercessory prayer.

In our daily lives, when we see the people around us going through difficult times, we often sympathize with them and that's all. We hardly spend time to pray for them. Sometimes we even tell them our prayers are with them, but we never truly pray for them.

Sympathizing with a friend who is sick won't take away his pains, but prayer will. Your sympathy might only help them psychologically but your prayers will change their circumstances.

We need to pray for others. Praying for others is an act of love. When we kneel to pray, let's spend time praying for our friends and family members. Some people are going through silent pains they can't tell you about, but when you pray for them everyday, God will interven for them.

A simple prayer for a friend, might be what will save him/her from an accident that day. Let us never underestimate the power of intercession.

If God could intervene and save Apostle Peter when the church interceded, then God can still intervene and save our friends and loved ones today if we will pray for them.

St. Augustine wrote about how the constant prayers of his mother saved him. Sometimes, people going through difficulties are unable to pray themselves, your constant prayers on their behalf can save them. Stay Blessed.

Prayer line:

Lord, please give me the Grace to pray for others.