Spoken For You

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ ~ to the glory and praise of God. Philippians 1:9-11 (New International Version)

I marvel at the way God’s Word is meant specifically for any who read it. What Paul wrote to the believers at Philippi thousands of years ago is meant for believers today. As I read his three verse prayer, I shut my eyes and tried to envision him praying those words over me. What a prayer! That my love would abound. That I would grow in knowledge and discernment. That I would be pure and blameless. That I would be completely filled with the fruit that comes from knowing Jesus. And that it all be for God’s praise and glory!

We often tell people we are praying for them, but do we ever get specific about the content of those prayers? In recent months I have had individuals send me an email prayer that was lifted up on my behalf. They literally wrote out the words of their prayer for me. I was deeply moved as I read them. I have also had people close a phone conversation in prayer. Sometimes I will actually get on my knees as I drink in the blessing that is being prayed over me. On several occasions I have asked individuals to pray a blessing over me and the experience was profound. As God continues to cross my paths with such people, I will gratefully receive their prayers over me. There is something about hearing or reading those prayers that stirs my heart and refreshes my spirit.

At the same time, I want to be that to others and pray effective prayers over them. For I know the power that comes from asking God to enrich, bless, and encourage them. If nothing else, I can slip their name into Paul’s prayer and speak it on their behalf. Know this though. Even if I do not know you personally, Jesus does. If He is your Savior, He intercedes for you on a daily basis! If you want to get an idea of how He prays for you, take some time to read His prayer in John 17. What He prayed on behalf of his disciples is still on His lips for you! Not only does He pray His desires over you but He knows your specific needs as well. I don’t know how many prayer partners God has blessed you with but none will surpass Jesus. He is the Prayer Warrior of all prayer warrior!

Father, thank you for prayers spoken on my behalf and for the prayers I can speak for others. May I not take lightly the intercession that will take place today. And my I wrap myself in the truth of Jesus being the ultimate intercessor! Amen.