Intercede

Have you ever been guilty of saying, “I’ll pray for you,” but then letting it slip your mind or simply not taking the time to actually pray? I know I have. I also grow weary of repeating myself when a prayer seems to go unanswered for a long period of time. Sometimes I simply don’t know how to pray in a certain situation, but now I am able to intercede for someone with cancer in a way I’ve never known how to before because I’ve had cancer. In fact, I’m still in the recovery process. I’ve spent the last eight months talking with God about the various aspects of my treatment and healing and He is teaching me to pray in the Spirit for others who suffer as well.

“Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.”

Ephesians 6:18 NLT

https://www.bible.com/116/eph.6.18.nlt

They say disaster comes in threes. Over the past year, my sister, my older son’s mother-in-love, and I were all diagnosed with different cancers; ovarian, multiple myeloma and colorectal. Each of us is experiencing healing differently, but we have shared similar struggles in our separate journeys. There is the shock that overwhelms the senses, leaving numbness behind. Acceptance comes with a range of emotional highs and lows, followed by the trauma to the body from chemotherapy, radiation, or surgery. I’ve experienced all three. It’s true that knowledge is power. During my treatments, knowing what to expect helped me to manage mentally the physical challenges confronting me. Likewise, knowing firsthand the trials of a cancer patient (or any specific circumstance) empowers intercession.

“Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.”

Colossians 4:2 NLT

https://www.bible.com/116/col.4.2.nlt

The numbness I experienced early on made it difficult to hear the well-wishes and encouragement offered to me by family and friends. Though I know their voiced cares were genuine and I was truly grateful for them, only One voice calmed my fears and reassured me. Matthew quoted the prophet, Isaiah, calling Jesus, the promised Messiah, Immanuel, which means God with us. (Matthew 1:23) It’s become one of my favorite names for God! Jesus taught His first followers to abide in Him, living in the close fellowship provided by God’s own Spirit.

“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.”

John 14:16-17 NLT

https://www.bible.com/116/jhn.14.16-17.nlt

“For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.”

Hebrews 13:5 NLT

https://www.bible.com/116/heb.13.5.nlt

I begin each petition by thanking God for the assurance of His presence. Open their eyes to You, Lord, in all ways and at all times. I know and rely on the love God has for me, (I John 4:16) so I pray that they will know God and rely on His love, experiencing a peace that is beyond our ability to comprehend to guide their thoughts and settle their emotions. (Philippians 4:7)

Trusting an all-knowing God who is sovereign over every situation means that I don’t need to understand His ways to believe that He works all things for my good. (Romans 8:28) Isaiah assures me that I will not.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

Isaiah 55:8-9 NIV

https://www.bible.com/111/isa.55.8-9.niv

So rather than waste time questioning God’s purpose, I have learned to pray like Jesus did in the garden on the night of his arrest. “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”

Luke 22:42 NLT

https://www.bible.com/116/luk.22.42.nlt

This prayer of surrender allows God to be God, expressing trust in His purpose in my life and in the lives of those for whom I intercede. Each person’s struggle is unique and only an infinite God can bring healing and hope in every situation.

“I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth. For, there is one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus. He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone. This is the message God gave to the world at just the right time.”

1 Timothy 2:1-6 NLT

https://www.bible.com/116/1ti.2.1-6.nlt

Having cancer enables me to intercede with compassion and empathy previously unavailable to me, but there is One who sits at the right hand of the Father interceding for all believers. (Romans 8:34) Even when I don’t know what to pray, the promised Advocate, the Holy Spirit, prays for me with groans that cannot be expressed by words. (Romans 8:26)

“And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will. And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.”

Romans 8:27-28 NLT

https://www.bible.com/116/rom.8.27-28.nlt

I end each prayer the same way I began- by thanking God for His presence and for what He is already doing. Jesus said He and His Father are always working, (John 5:17) so I am confident that He is always working things together for good!

“Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NLT

https://www.bible.com/116/1th.5.16-18.nlt