Today something began weighing heavy on my heart. I heard my fellow brothers and sisters in the past and recently again today say "I am not sure I want them praying for me”.
Dear friends, why would we not want all of our brothers and sisters who share the joy of our risen King to pray for us? To say we don't want their prayers would be to imply that they are less righteous than others or ourselves. Christ alone is our righteousness! We have all fallen short! We are all redeemed only by His blood! It is true that Bible says that the prayers of one righteous person accomplishes much, but It also says that if we think we are without sin we are only fooling ourselves. It speaks of our hidden sin and, that while we as humans see the outside and the physical, the Lord sees our hearts! Since Christ alone is our righteousness and He alone can sees our hearts, how can we say or imply that one of His children's prayers is less valuable or will be accepted over another’s?
No one can declare Jesus is Lord and call upon His name except through the Holy Spirit. This is the same Spirit that resides in each one of us. Since we all have hidden sin and see only the external, is it not possible that our brothers or sisters who we think of as less might actually be greater? Perhaps their one or two sins we see are less than our 10 or 20 that are hidden. Jesus said that we should be different! To become great we must become least, so let us welcome each other's prayers. Perhaps our brother/sister whose prayer we think might not be heard may be the very petition that our Father is waiting on before pouring out His blessing on our entire family.
Father,
Thank You for Your unfailing love that surpasses all understanding! Lord, help us to become more like You in all that we say and everything that we do. Help us to serve others as You so graciously served us. Jesus, we declare that in You alone we are righteous! Our debt is paid. Thank You Jesus! May we forever sing Your praises and bring glory and honor to Your name! We love You Lord! Amen.
Isaiah 45:24 (NLT)
The people will declare, “The Lord is the source of all my righteousness and strength.” And all who were angry with him will come to him and be ashamed.
James 5:16 (NLT)
Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.
1 John 1:8 (NLT)
If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth.
Psalm 19:12 (NLT)
How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart? Cleanse me from these hidden faults.
1 Samuel 16:7 (NLT)
But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
1 Corinthians 12:3 (NLT)
So I want you to know that no one speaking by the Spirit of God will curse Jesus, and no one can say Jesus is Lord, except by the Holy Spirit.
Ephesians 4:4(NLT)
For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future.
Proverbs 16:2(NLT)
People may be pure in their own eyes but the Lord examines their motives.
Matthew 20:26-30 (NLT)
26 But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. 28 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.
Dear friends, why would we not want all of our brothers and sisters who share the joy of our risen King to pray for us? To say we don't want their prayers would be to imply that they are less righteous than others or ourselves. Christ alone is our righteousness! We have all fallen short! We are all redeemed only by His blood! It is true that Bible says that the prayers of one righteous person accomplishes much, but It also says that if we think we are without sin we are only fooling ourselves. It speaks of our hidden sin and, that while we as humans see the outside and the physical, the Lord sees our hearts! Since Christ alone is our righteousness and He alone can sees our hearts, how can we say or imply that one of His children's prayers is less valuable or will be accepted over another’s?
No one can declare Jesus is Lord and call upon His name except through the Holy Spirit. This is the same Spirit that resides in each one of us. Since we all have hidden sin and see only the external, is it not possible that our brothers or sisters who we think of as less might actually be greater? Perhaps their one or two sins we see are less than our 10 or 20 that are hidden. Jesus said that we should be different! To become great we must become least, so let us welcome each other's prayers. Perhaps our brother/sister whose prayer we think might not be heard may be the very petition that our Father is waiting on before pouring out His blessing on our entire family.
Father,
Thank You for Your unfailing love that surpasses all understanding! Lord, help us to become more like You in all that we say and everything that we do. Help us to serve others as You so graciously served us. Jesus, we declare that in You alone we are righteous! Our debt is paid. Thank You Jesus! May we forever sing Your praises and bring glory and honor to Your name! We love You Lord! Amen.
Isaiah 45:24 (NLT)
The people will declare, “The Lord is the source of all my righteousness and strength.” And all who were angry with him will come to him and be ashamed.
James 5:16 (NLT)
Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.
1 John 1:8 (NLT)
If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth.
Psalm 19:12 (NLT)
How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart? Cleanse me from these hidden faults.
1 Samuel 16:7 (NLT)
But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
1 Corinthians 12:3 (NLT)
So I want you to know that no one speaking by the Spirit of God will curse Jesus, and no one can say Jesus is Lord, except by the Holy Spirit.
Ephesians 4:4(NLT)
For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future.
Proverbs 16:2(NLT)
People may be pure in their own eyes but the Lord examines their motives.
Matthew 20:26-30 (NLT)
26 But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. 28 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.