Personal hardship shouldn’t isolate us, as though we’re the only ones experiencing heartache or difficulty. Our dilemma exists at the same time as many around the world experiencing similar challenges. We don’t know them, but in the power of the Spirit, we can reach out and include them in our circle of prayer… covering them, praying for them, asking God to deliver them, and believing with them for every trial to become answered prayer.

Because of the Holy Spirit’s power, we connect and know exactly how to pray. Rather than a myopic focus on our own needs, we look into the Spirit and introduce ourselves to many standing in the need of prayer. We have a responsibility to them because our calling is from our Lord, who watches over them. In prayer, we know by the Spirit there are many praying with us. There are more with than against us. 

None are isolated—we are not alone. The stunning power of Almighty God is with us. 

Amen. 

2 Chronicles 32:7-8 | Romans 8:17-19 | Psalm 84:7, KJV | Romans 1:17 | 2 Corinthians 3:18 | Verses@Once

The intercessor’s passion is prayer for others. The more we learn about such prayer, the more we realize God’s calling to intercede is not for a few only but is an important part of every believer’s lifestyle. All believers can intercede. 

And when you think about it, who could possibly be exempt? Who would say they do not have Jesus’s anointing and therefore cannot pray fervently for others? Thankfully, all believers are equipped to pray fervently because all are equipped with born-again DNA, and all believers have divine stirring from the Holy Spirit. All believers can be intercessors. 

The Bible meaning of fervent prayer includes the concept of being “stretched out” in prayer,^[1] giving all, holding nothing back. Fervency and confidence toward God, along with determination to see His will accomplished, can mean we are prostrate before God, abandoned to the purpose of praying for God’s will in all manner of situations. 

Intercession can also mean we are shut in with the Lord when we pray, our focus on the Holy Spirit’s leading, woven with passion and emboldened with steadfast confidence in the One to whom we appeal. 

• “And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me.” (Ezekiel 22:30, KJV)

• “And there is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee.”  (Isaiah 64:7, KJV)

• “And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him.” (Isaiah 59:16, KJV)

• “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”  (James 5:13-18, KJV)

Amen.

Ezekiel 22:30, KJV | Isaiah 64:7, KJV | Isaiah 59:16, KJV | James 5:13-18

^[1] Note: The biblical meaning of fervent prayer is “stretched out” prayer. 

Thank God for the ministry of intercessor-prophets who come alongside, even go ahead of, God’s people, prayerfully guarding the path and prophetically clearing the way. The ministry of these interceding prophets is missing in some congregations, but thankfully, more and more leaders are coming to realize the value of this authentic gift.

“So Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel and Jeshua, the son of Jozadak rose up and began to build the house of God which is in Jerusalem; and the prophets of God were with them, helping them.” (Ezra 5:2)

“So the elders of the Jews built, and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah, the son of Iddo. And they built and finished it, according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the command of Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia.” (Ezra 6:14) 

Start at the beginning. Cut away anything you won’t need in the coming season. After that initial pruning, begin afresh with what you have, primarily because you cannot begin with what you do not have. As you begin, embrace the ministry of the intercessor who often is also a prophet, and of the prophet who is always an intercessor! 

If you plan to move forward and take new ground, you’ll need the solid spirit prayers of a prophet-intercessor riding shotgun with you. 

Amen!

Ezra 5:2 | Ezra 6:14 | 1 Corinthians 14:22b | Verses@Once

Jesus grew as a child, increasing in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man. Like Him, we are created for life with God’s design… until we all come unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.

Character is determined by choices we make and is especially important to Christians, for whom everything begins with the individual and grows to the gathered-group level, ultimately impacting culture with the combination of both—a wealth of good things populated by greatness.

A Christian worldview embraces biblical standards reflected in individual God-callings that absorb cultural shifts with grace and confident faith and carry an end-time message of visionary influence, evidenced in the character of believers.

Stature is character, one way we carry God’s mark… loaded with potential for His plan, audacious in believing all things are possible with God and nothing shall be impossible where He is Lord.

Amen.

Luke 2:52 | Ephesians 4 (especially verses 11 & 13) | Verses@Once

“So we built the wall, and the entire wall was joined together up to half its height, for the people had a mind to work…”  (Nehemiah 4: 16-18)

Every believer has gifts and a calling specific to areas of Kingdom building, intended to be used for that purpose. Some, however, believe they can live to themselves and for themselves even if it means withholding the part God gave for their participation in building His Kingdom.

Anytime we withhold God’s gifts and purpose for us and don’t allow them to flow through us, the missed opportunity comes at the expense of everyone else. The missing part becomes the most needed part… because it’s missing! Don’t do that—don’t squander what God has placed within you. The treasure inside is an offering meant to be given away. 

The Lord calls and sends you. He draws you to a specific geographic location, to live among certain people. And the spiritual gifts He has given you place a demand upon your spiritual storehouse. It is God. He is leading.  

Amen. 

Nehemiah 4

You should remember past seasons of your life in two ways: first, for the good gleaned from the experience and second, for changes the season demanded, necessary to transition into the next season. In the process, learn to leave behind negative emotions—culprits of emotional baggage that make for unhealthy lifestyles—forgetting and forgiving yesterday’s negatives and the give-and-take in relationships and life in general, focusing instead on the benefits gained.

Change, transition well, forgive, and remain focused on the word you have from the Lord—move forward, don’t standstill. In this new season, there is more change and transition. Always remember anything new begins best in the context of prayer and is best interpreted from a perspective of prayer. Prayer moves you forward into this new season with renewed hope and fresh vision and allows your heart to merge with God’s heart. With Him, you receive grace for grace.

Amen. 

John 1:16 | 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 | Romans 8:28  | Verses@Once