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Just before he died, Jesus offered up a series of prayers to his Father on his behalf, on behalf of his disciples, and on our behalf.
First he asked his Father to “glorify” him so that he could in turn bring glory to his Father. Then he asked his Father to guide and protect his disciples. Finally, he prayed that all of us would become one with the Father, with Jesus, and with each other (John 17). An hour or two later, when he was in the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus interceded again, saying, “Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me” (Matthew 26:39). And again, just before he died, he prayed: “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34).
Jesus knew how important intercessory prayer is. As the high priest of our new covenant with God, he lives forever to intercede for us, offering prayers to the Father on our behalf. This is something he will continue to do every day until he comes in glory to answer all the longings of our hearts.
The knowledge that Jesus is for us, always interceding for us and always blessing us, is so comforting and uplifting. But it also presents us with a challenge to our day-to-day lives. It calls us to join him in interceding—for ourselves, for our families, for our friends, and even for those who may not like us. Jesus wants us to bring all of our needs and wants to him—the big ones and the small ones.
Pray, and Never Give Up. In this issue we want to encourage you to increase your times of intercessory prayer. Why? Because persistent prayer brings amazing grace—grace that we need to live each day. I myself pray prayers of petition each day for the world—for a great outpouring of grace and for conversions. I pray for myself, my family, my friends, and for the whole Word Among Us family. I pray for the typical challenges and sufferings of life, as well as for small things like finding a parking space, resolving a computer glitch, having a meeting go well.
For the past twenty years, I have been praying for my daughter, Christine, asking that God would heal her blindness. This prayer has not been answered as I have asked, but I know that God hears me and is working in Christine’s life. She is a happy, well-adjusted young woman. She is not bitter about her blindness. And she is a tangible witness to the love of Christ. Maybe this is God’s full answer, but I am not going to stop asking for her sight. I still believe that all things are possible (Matthew 19:26).
So as you read this issue, I hope it helps you turn to the Lord and intercede every day. Make a list so that you don’t forget what you are praying for—and so that you can keep track of how God answers your prayers. And believe me, he will answer them!
Joe Difato, Publisher |
So encouraging. I am praying for my family and at times it seems that I can’t bear anymore yet somehow, God gives me the strength. I pray to continue to see the blessings even when I don’t get what I want. Yet.
Yes, make a list. I did and continue to add to it regularly as people ask me to pray for someone. My list is about 100 now and will keep growing, I’m sure. As prayers are answered I keep them on the list but as a thanksgiving. My list of thanksgivings is growing day by day and month by month.
I strongly believe that when my prayer is answered no matter how long it took that I need to pray as long and as earnestly in thanksgiving that I did in petition.
I prayed for example for my husband to become Catholic for just over 30 years and this past Easter he was confirmed.( He was brought up as Lutheran.) He went with me to Mass every week during those 30 years but always went up to Communion with his arms crossed over his chest. Now he too receives the Eucharist with me-my heart leaps with joy every time.
The amazing thing is that the day before Mother’s day he had a huge heart attack and had 6 way by-pass surgery at 80 years old.The care that God took to have him become Catholic before the heart attack so he could receive the Eucharist each day while in the hospital is just amazing. Most 80 year old’s would not have survived this attack. However, on the way to the hospital I put him into Jesus arms and asked that he hold him tight and take good care of him.
As always, Jesus answers in abundance. He not only took good care of him but of me as well.
We have no children and so I am pretty much alone. The hospital he was air lifted to as the local hospital couldn’t deal with this was an hour away and I’m not good a driving when uncertain of where I’m going.
My neighbors and some of my husband’s friends took me back and forth until I felt confident enough to drive myself. Jesus provided this for me and I was most thankful.
He was in the hospital for 16 days and during that time I grew in my love of God and especially in trust. I totally put all my trust in Jesus and my husband has made a remarkable recovery. He is back to the gym and riding his bike again and repairing lawn equipment again.
I will be saying a prayer of thanksgiving for the rest of my life. God has answered my prayer beyond my wildest dreams. We both have grown through this experience.
What some saw as a tragedy was a blessing for us and especially me.My own prayer life blossomed as I put ALL my trust in the Lord with no reservations or doubt. I always pray for an answer according to the will of the Father not mine just as Jesus did on the cross.
Good reminder for me to always give thanks to our God. I’d never really appreciate the fact that God had answered my prayers that my husband, including myself and my sons would be baptised as Catholics. Since baptism 2yrs ago, only good things came our way. Yes, He is very generous and I pray that I will always be thankful for His daily blessings.
I would like to thank all of you for the encouragement. We need to be reminded not to give up. GOD does answer all our prayers. I am going through a divorce. My wife left me. I did all I could to stay in the marriage. She refused to try. I was in deep depression. I have prayed daily for both of us. I ask that GOD leads us to heal and be able to do his will. I am now much more at peace, and continuing to feel better daily.
If I may: ‘Cozycalico’, YOU are amazing! A truly modern senior! Computer savvy, and yet filled to overflowing with beautiful, childlike faith! Awe-some! Thank you all who have commented here, and continued heart felt grattitude to Mr. Joe Difato and the entire WAU staff. I will update my list today, and perhaps make it in a notebook, as it most certainly grows quickly. Thanks again to Cozycalico for reminding me to THANK God. You all are the hope, the real flesh and blood hope in this world with your encouraging messages. Thanks be to God indeed for all of you.
i fully agree with the message of hope that this article brings..
and have always believed and applied what the author wrote (paraphrase): “i will not stop praying for i believe that in God nothing is impossible.”
to God be the glory!
this reminds me that we have a Father who created us and put us on earth for a purpose; that we have our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ who died for us and called us to complete His work; and the Holy Spirit to help us carry out the work for which we were created and called.
Laus Deo!
Thank you all for your encouragement. Indeed it is good to give thanks to God at all times and in all situations though not very easy. I’ll keep a list, then a book for intercessory then Thanksgiving. Praying for God’s grace.