Ministry bytes...

I'm writing this in response to something I got out of my quiet time yesterday and today.

Was praying for a few beloved people yesterday evening... when the Lord brought upon me the grieving conviction of how little thought I give sometimes, to empathizing with Him.

Many times I rush into praying for the needs of any particular person... then I keep going on and on, forgetting to be quiet and discerning to His heart. What a bad habit!

Interceding for others does not merely mean to sit through the hours, uttering repetitive prayers - but it calls for us to take His yoke, to bear God's burden for someone, to share His heartbeat and to lament in silence, moaning or even tears over the things that matter more than anything, to the Lord Himself. Neither is intercession just hastily saying a "Bless him" prayer for someone whom He's placed in our hearts, then returning to attending to our own businesses. I'm not saying here that we can't say quick prayers for others, in between our packed schedules. There's always a place for that, and all prayers count. But let us, perhaps, take the promptings of God more seriously. We cannot only want Him to share our pains and sorrows for people - but we've got to share His pains and sorrows for these as well! Learn to ask Him, why the burden for that particular someone?

Intercession is ultimately a lifestyle of ministry to God's own heart. May our public ministry to others only be out of overflow of us having first identified with the His yearnings for these souls.

On the other hand, today, I'd like to pray with my brothers and sisters who are suffering or struggling with all kinds of trials - be it barrenness, rejection, betrayal, hurt, loneliness, persecutions and losses:

May God not only comfort and help us in His all-sufficient grace and unfailing love. But may He also enlarge us in our distresses - our sensitivity to His beloved voice, as well as our spiritual capacity to listen and share in His sufferings; His waitings; His anguish, heartache and grief over the fallen world and lost souls He came to save. As we turn our hearts and priorities back to God, may the joy of the Lord strengthen us again and renew that purpose-driven life He's called us to live.

Last but not least, as we break into our spiritual destinies of which there can be no other ways of achieving except having been prepared through personal pain, sorrow, losses, and identifying with the Lord through suffering, may there be raised up amongst us: many Moses-es, Davids, Samuels, Isaiahs and Jeremiahs who would lament together with God over the things they see in the church/in the world that would break His heart... Mary's who would go all the way to break vials of fragrant sacrifice and pour themselves at His feet.... Annas and Simeons who'd serve, worship the Lord and effectively minister His grace to others even in old age... Etcetera.

In Jesus' name, amen.