Are you ready to be an intercessory?

Think back to the last time you were told by a friend about a problem they were having. If you are like me and it was like most situation, you felt a feeling of helplessness. I had a colleague that had been battling cancer since before I came to work at the company. It turns out that he had just come back to work after a long battle with lung cancer and he was in remission. He was in such a tough situation and was struggling with work. His manager and I were partners in crime, if you will, together responsible for managing a project management office at a technology company.

This colleague and I worked on an initiative together and I got to know him quite well. And then the bad news, he was out of remission, the cancer was back. I remember asking him if there was anything I could do. His response "You don't have a spare lung laying around do you?, because that would be great". We both chuckled. It was amazing to me how he could keep his sense of humor in such a difficult moment in his life. I told him that my family and I were praying for him and would continue to do so. He responded by saying that was the best thing I could do for him.

We never really talked about our faith, but he knew how strong mine was. I continued to remind him that we were raising him and his family up in prayer daily. I wasn't sure how important that was until going to see him in the hospice on what turns out to be the day before he passed. He was avoiding pain medicine so he could be lucid, but in doing so was having a difficult time, becoming belligerent at times. The nurse said we could go back one at a time so we would not cause too much stress. When I walked in the room, she told him I was there. I spoke some words to him reassuring him that we were still lifting him up in prayer. I could see his response was positive, although he could not talk. He was weak, thin and I knew he was close to death. I prayed right there for God to have mercy on him. As I walked out of the room, the nurse said I must have been someone special because his face lit up as she told him I was there.

The lesson here is the same as what John DeVries discusses in his book, "Why Pray?", and what Jesus teaches us in Luke 11:5-13. This is the story of the man who has a friend come to him at midnight after a long journey and who is hungry. The man has no food for his friend, but knows the wealthy man next door can help. You see, I had no power to help my friend and colleague. I am not a doctor, I cannot perform miracles and could not remove his cancer. But what I did have was a relationship with my Savior, Jesus Christ. I knew who could help my friend and his family through this difficult time and I lifted them up to God. I interceded in my friend's behalf. As I said before, I really did not know his faith. I do know from his wife that he was a little mad at God, but I also know that he welcomed my family's prayers in his behalf. I prayed that the Holy Spirit would touch him and I know in my heart that He did.

In this world, especially in the workplace, it may be uncomfortable for you to express your faith. I have found that the easiest way is to just show that you care. What better way to show this then to tell someone you will pray for them. You are telling them that you know that you cannot do anything to change the situation personally, but you know someone who can. And you are going to take the request personally to Him for His help.

Please be the friend in the middle. Be the intercessory, for we are instructed to do so by God in
1 Timothy 2:1-2
"I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone – for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness."

May God bless your Friday. Keep praying!!!