Day 16: Engaging Prayer

Spiritual Advocates - by Chad Riley

"Mercy, Mercy” by Hillsong UNITED
Arrest my heart from this reckless path,
release the chains in me.
Awake my soul to the hope you hold,
your grace is all I need.

I am so grateful for the people who prayed for me before I knew God, and for those who have prayed for me every day since. I’m sure I don’t know who they are in most cases, but because of them I’ve known the touch of God’s hand for more than 20 years now, as a gentle touch of humility in moments of triumph and as the firm ground beneath my feet when facing hardship and agony.

When I stop and think about the men and women (and children) who have considered me in their prayers and spoken to God on my behalf, I feel incredibly grateful. Where would I be if they hadn’t interceded with the Lord to make sure my concerns didn’t go unvoiced?

Thankfully, I don’t have to know the answer to that question. Hopefully, the people I’m praying for now will be able to say the same thing in the future, once they look back on their present struggles and see God’s hand holding and guiding them throughout.

Spiritual advocacy through intercessory prayer may be one of the most difficult spiritual practices to observe, but it can also be one of the most rewarding, both for the one who’s sharing concerns with God and for the person they’re championing and cheering forward in His presence.

“Since I have begun, let me speak further to my Lord…”
[Genesis 18:27, NLT]