“Prayer motivated by love comforts a person’s past hurt and pleads with the Lord to bring real time healing and restoration.”
Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – November 5, 2021
Father, forgive these people, Jesus said, for they don’t know what they are doing. Luke 23:34
Jesus freely gave the gift of prayer to those who were in the process of taking His life. Though gasping for air, the Lord of the universe offered the fresh breath of God’s forgiveness. If willing, His enemies could pause in prayer, and inhale the cool breeze of His life-giving love into the lungs of their souls. No one was beyond the reach of the righteous prayers of the Righteous One.
A.W. Pink, the respected theologian and prolific writer, celebrated Jesus’ selfless prayer on the cross by challenging Christ followers to engage in the ministry of prayer, especially in seasons of more inactive service:
Perhaps these lines may be read by some who by reason of age and sickness are no longer able to work actively in the Lord’s vineyard. Possibly in days gone by, you were a teacher, you were a preacher, a Sunday-school teacher, a tract-distributor: but now you are bed-ridden. Yes, but you are still here on earth! Who knows but what God is leaving you here for a few more days to engage in the ministry of prayer—and perhaps accomplish more by this than all your past active service. If you are tempted to disparage such a ministry, remember your Saviour. He prayed—prayed for others, prayed for sinners, even in His last hours.
“Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much” (James 5:16, NKJV).
You may not see yourself as an aggressive prayer warrior or certainly not having a ministry of prayer. But consider praying for those closest to you, with a heart for them to draw closer to Christ. Especially pray for someone who may be relationally sideways, who may have a jealous spirit or whose heart has been dinged in the past by another and so you have become the object of his hurting heart. Prayer motivated by love comforts a person’s past hurt and pleads with the Lord to bring real time healing and restoration. Your feelings of being rejected and attacked are real. But, as you abide in your Savior Jesus and experience the fellowship of His sufferings, He will empower you to pray in the strength of the Holy Spirit—with empathy and courage.
Forgiveness frees you to pray unhindered, full of faith and love. As you forgive others and pray for them, so your heavenly Father forgives you and fills you with His Spirit. The ministry of prayer makes the most significant impact and surely can exceed any ministry you have experienced in the past, because you are tapping into the unlimited capacity of Christ and His love. Unleash prayer in the mornings when you rise, as you think of others during the day, and perhaps drop a note in the mail or send a text with a prayer of hope and healing. Pray for others who are confused and hurting, as Jesus ever intercedes for you and those you lift to Him.
“Who would dare to accuse us, whom God has chosen? The judge himself has declared us free from sin. Who is in a position to condemn? Only Christ, and Christ died for us, Christ rose for us, Christ reigns in power for us, Christ prays for us” (Romans 8:34, Phillips).
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank you for calling me to pray for others to draw closer to you, through Christ’s love and in Jesus’ name, amen.
Application
Consider sending a regular prayer via text, email or handwritten note to those in need of love and encouragement.
Related Reading
Genesis 24:67; Job 16:5; 1 Kings 8:28; 2 Corinthians 1:1-3; Colossians 1:3-4
Worship Resource
Red Rocks Worship: Again & Again
Donate
If you are blessed by these daily devotionals please prayerfully consider a donation to support Wisdom Hunters Resources. We are trusting the Lord for His provision.
Download our app!
