I recently read an article about intercessory prayer. The article talked about two gentlemen who prayed for the great American evangelist Charles Finney (1792-18750), Fr. Daniel Nash and Abel Clary. Here’s the link
http://www.charismanews.com/opinion/43204-where-are-all-the-old-school-intercessors
Fr. Daniel Nash would arrive in a city where Finney was scheduled to preach a few days early and stay in his room praying until he felt that the spiritual atmosphere in the city was ready for Finney’s meetings . At that point, he would move on to the next city. Soon after Nash died, Finney transitioned from evangelist to pastor.
Abel Clary traveled with Finney and prayed for the entirety of the meetings, never leaving his room. Clary was an ordained minister, yet felt his calling was that of a prayer intercessor.
Talk about the hands and feet of Jesus! What great men, yet we don’t hear about them. They are not famous, but Finney would not have been successful and all those precious people who are now in heaven due to Finney’s meetings may not have come to know Jesus without those prayer warriors.
We always look at the people on the frontline when we think about being the hands and feet of Jesus, but I dare to think that the prayer warriors are the ones who are making the true difference. They are tearing down strongholds and are in it to win it!
Actually, all of us are called to pray. The word is very explicit about prayer. I am not a theologian, but I know that prayer is essential to sharing the good news. I also believe that there are seasons in life when we intercede more than others. When I was busy homeschooling and raising my children, I did not have time to intercede like I do now.
At times, I feel like all I’m doing is praying, but God is showing me that I am making a big difference in His kingdom. I am not insignificant and my prayers matter!
My daughter is a missionary to Burundi, a small nation in the heart of Africa. God showed me how much she needed prayer and told me to enlist a small army to pray specifically for her. I pictured her that she was similar to Moses when the children of Israel were fighting the Amelikites in Exodus 17. As long as Aaron and Hur held up Moses hands, the Israelites kept winning the battle and when Moses hands dropped from exhaustion, the Israelites began losing. So we pray to keep Jana’s hands up and the forces of evil that have engulfed that nation for too many years can not win!
And that, my friends, is another way to be the “hands and feet” of Jesus!
Rebeca Jones says
I love this, Pat. Not only do your words pay honor to those behind the scenes in prayer, but you give me hope. At this season of life I sometimes feel that I don’t pray enough. You said, “I also believe that there are seasons in life when we intercede more than others. When I was busy homeschooling and raising my children, I did not have time to intercede like I do now.” Your words are sensible and remind me to do what I can at this season of life. Who knows, my calling may be very different in 8-10 years. Blessings to you.