Day 19: Engaging Prayer

Sent - by Fred Hammer

Intercession means that we rouse ourselves up to get the mind of Christ about the one for whom we pray. - My Utmost for His Highest, Oswald Chambers

Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. - Matthew 9:35-38

Just look around and everywhere we see the “harassed and helpless” and the ongoing need for more people to share Jesus. The same challenge Jesus observed with his disciples is the same today; there are tons of people in our community who need Jesus! But these are more than mere words, these are very specific instructions given to us as we reach into our community to share Jesus.

First, we see that Jesus and his disciples went to where the people were. The emphasis was not teaching in their home churches or neighborhoods, rather it was reaching into their “other places.” Next, we see that Jesus actually looked into the crowds. He connected with them. It wasn’t a checklist to lay hands, heal and move on; instead he committed emotionally to them seeing past their physical needs and into their personal afflictions of harassment and helplessness. He took time for them. Finally, we see him instruct us to ask the Lord to send out his workers. We are not asked to reach the world for Jesus alone, and we shouldn’t have to! but we do have the responsibility to pray for our fellow believers to reach into their other places and love people in the name of Jesus.

Today let us go before God on behalf of those around us.