Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 6:06 — 5.6MB)
Welcome to season 2 of the Determined to Dance podcast. I pray that you’ll be uplifted, encouraged, and will move forward each and every day. Today’s episode, Intercession for Our World, considers the world we live in and how to focus our prayers.
Show Notes: Praying Like Jesus: Intercession for Our World
“Spirit, lead me where my trust is without borders,
Let me walk upon the waters,
Wherever you would call me.”
The words above are to one of my all-time favorite Christian songs. What does part of the bridge from “Oceans,” have to do with praying for the world? When preparing for this episode, I thought, “God, the world is so big. There are so many people. So many needs. Besides people struggling, there are environmental issues. The continents. The oceans. The world is immense and so are its struggles.”
Then, on Sunday morning, we sang “Oceans” at church. “Spirit, lead me” is the answer. We can’t take on world prayer alone or even know where to start.
It truly takes two to tango, waltz, or rumba. The Holy Spirit is our dance partner in prayer. When we give our lives to the Lord, the Holy Spirit comes to reside in us. John 14:26 says: “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.” NKJV
The Holy Spirit will point the direction in which we are to pray for the world when we ask. Needs will be evident. Sometimes, we see these prayer focuses through:
- Watching the news.
- Prayer requests made at church.
- Social media.
- A missionary or visitor from another country.
- Dreams and visions.
Paul had a vision of a man from Macedonia calling for help which led to prayer and a mission trip. God uses many means, through His Spirit, to teach us and bring thoughts and ideas to our remembrance.
I’ll never forget a day trip we made to a major city in another state. We enjoyed the short holiday, then decided to return home a different way. We drove through the west side of town and what I saw broke my heart. We passed mile after mile of empty malls, apartment complexes, and shopping centers. Places boarded up. Not a soul in sight. We wondered what happened and it led me to pray for renewal in the west side of this city. Years before, we’d stopped for gas while driving on the interstate and saw an empty mall. Abandoned.
The Holy Spirit pointed it out and I prayed. Will these sections of cities ever be repopulated and renewed? I don’t know but I can still lift them up. We can pray, noticing the part of the world where we are and its needs.
Remember in Romans 8:26 Paul says: “Likewise, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray as we ought, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.”
He longs to help us but we must first ask. I love this quote from John Bunyan, the author of Pilgrim’s Progress: “Prayer is a sincere, sensible, affectionate pouring out of the soul to God, through Christ, in the strength and assistance of the Spirit, for such things as God has promised.”
We pray to God, through Jesus, assisted by the Holy Spirit. How can we not succeed when praying for the world with their help? Here are a few ideas to think about:
- Pray for specific countries during specific seasons. Our church has focused a lot of prayers for Ukraine because of the war they are fighting.
- Pray for world leaders. Find godly leaders to lift to the Lord.
- Pray during natural disasters. Hurricanes, tsunamis, blizzards, earthquakes, and other traumatic events can affect nations for weeks and months.
- Pray for the peace of Israel. We are specifically told in scripture to remember Israel. “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem; they shall prosper that love thee.” Psalm 122: 6 KJV
Praying for the world is possible when the Holy Spirit assists you. Father God, thank You for the Holy Spirit who helps us pray when we ask. We love You and praise You for who You are. The world is not too big for You to save. In Jesus’ name, we pray, amen.
Today’s featured author is Izzy James, author of Rita: A Yorktown Christmas Time-Travel Novella, a Christian Time-Travel Romance.
The wonder continues in this third book in the Yorktown series. Retired physician, Rita Woods, misses her patients. She wants to do something that makes a difference. When Max Ballard and his time-traveling conservatory pop into her life, the voice of Dr. Josiah Jones’ diary calls. Rita thought she was going back to save the children. She didn’t count on falling in love.
Learn more at izzyjamesauthor.com
Next week, we’ll look at praying in the Spirit. Until then, stay determined to dance…
Links:
My debut novel, Jessie’s Hope
Remember: Intercession for Our World
Video of the week:
I absolutely love music and each week I’d like to share a relevant song we can enjoy together.
