Scripture for April – “And He . . . wondered that there was no intercessor.” Isaiah 59:16
Quotation for April – “One of the subtlest burdens God ever puts on us as saints is this burden of discernment concerning other souls.” Oswald Chambers
Director’s Message: Answering the call to intercede involves more than a willingness to spend time in prayer. It requires the humble heart of a true worshipper. Oswald Chambers makes this clear in a series of three remarkable devotionals (March 30-April 1) in My Utmost for His Highest. Allow me to share a few of his most pungent sentences on this subject:
“Worship and intercession must go together, the one is impossible without the other. Intercession means that we rouse ourselves up to get the mind of Christ about the one for whom we pray. Too often instead of worshipping God, we construct statements as to how prayer works. Are we worshipping or are we in dispute with God—‘I don't see how You are going to do it.’ This is a sure sign that we are not worshipping. When we lose sight of God we become hard and dogmatic. We hurl our own petitions at God's throne and dictate to Him as to what we wish Him to do. We do not worship God, nor do we seek to form the mind of Christ. If we are hard towards God, we will become hard towards other people. Are we so worshipping God that we rouse ourselves up to lay hold on Him so that we may be brought into contact with His mind about the ones for whom we pray?”
Brother Chambers forcibly highlights the selflessness required for true intercession. We must pray from a spirit of discernment rather than a spirit of direction—agreeing with God’s plan for others instead of telling God how to fix them. In the process, we will find that the Lord will draw both the object of intercession AND THE INTERCESSOR closer to Himself.
Daily Prayer Emphases for April:
MONDAY – Pray for new IPHC churches to be birthed and for like-minded unaffiliated churches to seek fellowship with the IPHC.
TUESDAY – Pray that the Lord to prepare the hearts of the students and workers who have divine appointments scheduled at youth camp this summer.
WEDNESDAY – Pray for your new Regional Pastor as he works to bring pastors and churches together in a fellowship of mutual support and ministry outreach.
THURSDAY – Pray for those in your church who work with children to plant “Gospel seed” in both word and deed.
FRIDAY – Pray for the Lord to guide and empower our Cornerstone Conference officials as they lead us forward in Kingdom Expansion.
SATURDAY – Pray that President Obama and the members of the 112th Congress will prove to be friends of Israel and friends of the innocent.
SUNDAY – Pray that your pastor and the other leaders in your local church will “weary not in well doing” but by the grace of God grow stronger as the battle grows hotter.
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