Sometimes people go through seasons where they don’t even have the strength to pray.
The storm is brutal – the hits of life keep coming – and they feel like they are literally about to drown.
While only Jesus can save a person, He often uses us to stand in the gap for them and intercede on their behalf.
We “know” we are supposed to carry one another’s burdens, but what does that actually mean?
Sometimes it’s as simple as taking a friend out for a cup of coffee and letting them vent – and then praying for them.
Other times it’s doing whatever you can to help them – even if it means “lowering them through the roof.”
“On one of those days, as he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with him to heal.
And behold, some men were bringing on a bed a man who was paralyzed, and they were seeking to bring him in and lay him before Jesus, but finding no way to bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down with his bed through the tiles into the midst before Jesus. And when he saw their faith, he said, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.” – Luke 5:17-20
This beautiful demonstration of love shows a helpless paralyzed man who couldn’t move.
There was no way he could physically get to Jesus, and with the large crowd, it seemed impossible he’d ever get to see him.
But then his friends made a way – climbing up to the roof and lowering the man down – having faith that when Jesus saw the paralyzed man, He would heal him.
And in His love and mercy, He did.
While we should have an active prayer life and regularly go before our Father – sometimes we need our friends to carry us when we don’t have the strength to spiritually walk.
By standing in the gap and interceding for your loved ones, you are helping fight the spiritual battle when they are too weary.
Maybe they are depressed, or believing a lie of the enemy.
Or perhaps they are in the middle of a major crisis and can’t even make decisions.
One of the most beautiful gifts you can give those you love is to intercede for them, and ask our Lord to bless them and be with them.
Prayer is a powerful weapon that can break through even the darkest of strongholds.
The enemy loves to keep people stuck in isolation – and he often attacks the mind with lies.
By reminding your friend about God’s truth and His love for them – and praying with them and for them – you can help shield the fiery darts the enemy is hurling their way.
Think about a person in your life who is in a crisis and who may need an extra dose of grace and love to make it through their current storm.
In addition to praying, think about practical ways you can help them – whether it’s providing basic necessities like food or a tank of gas – or even offering to cook a meal – all of us can do something to “stand in the gap.”
Christ’s love compels us to love others and walk through this messy world with them – so tonight, pray about someone you can help – in fact, you may just be an answer to their prayer.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” – John 3:16-17
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