Saddle Up

 SADDLE UP

 And the LORD said to Moses, “Go, get down! For your people whom you brought out of the land of Egypt have corrupted themselves.  They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them. They have made themselves a molded calf, and worshiped it and sacrificed to it, and said, ‘This is your god, O Israel, that brought you out of the land of Egypt!’”   And the LORD said to Moses, “I have seen this people, and indeed it is a stiff-necked people!   Now therefore, let Me alone, that My wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them. And I will make of you a great nation.”
Then Moses pleaded with the LORD his God, and said: “LORD, why does Your wrath burn hot against Your people whom You have brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand?  Why should the Egyptians speak, and say, ‘He brought them out to harm them, to kill them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth’? Turn from Your fierce wrath, and relent from this harm to Your people.   Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, Your servants, to whom You swore by Your own self, and said to them, ‘I will multiply your descendants as the stars of heaven; and all this land that I have spoken of I give to your descendants, and they shall inherit it forever.’” So the LORD relented from the harm which He said He would do to His people  (Exodus 32:7-14 New King James Version).

After Israel corrupted themselves with the golden calf, Moses interceded for Israel when God’s anger burned hot enough to destroy them.  Because of Moses’ pleading with God, He did not pour out His wrath upon the Israelites.  Moses stood in the gap for his people; one man for them all.

Another man stood in the gap for us.  Jesus interceded for us on the night He was betrayed (John 17:6-26).  We are told to pray and intercede for all men (1 Timothy 2:1).  Prayer is conversation with God. intercession is taking someone else’s burden to God on their behalf. Prayer is the greatest gift we can offer anyone, and most beneficial to our own spiritual health. Because of prayer and intercessory prayer, many families have seen salvation, received healing, and miracles, ministries have born fruit, pastors have overcome adversity and attacks from the enemy, while financial burdens have been eased.  As we continue to press in more and more to our Father, we also get to know Him more and more, and our hearts become more Christ-like.

Let’s Pray:  Dear Lord, we praise You and exalt Your mighty name above all!  We come and bow humbly at Your feet in worship and adoration of You!  Forgive us, Lord, if we have not stood up straight in the gap for others, show us what to say, how to intercede, change us to be more like You.  Help us to develop a more intimate relationship with You, draw us closer.  Fill us with Your Holy Spirit, and empower us to be bright and salty while we are serving You on this earth.  Open our ears, Lord, that we may listen for Your still small voice and seek Your face.  Let not a day go by that we are not reminded of how You interceded for us, so that we may lift others up to You. When we can’t think of anything to say, Lord, we ask for Your Spirit to pray and intercede on our behalf.  We desire to be more like You, Jesus.  Purify our hearts, take hold of our thoughts and teach us.  We thank You for interceding for us, we thank You for Your sacrifice, we thank You for Your friendship, love and guidance.  We give You glory and honor and we continuously sing Your praises.  In Your name Jesus we pray, Amen.

 Today’s Attitude of Worship:  Take some time today to examine your prayer life.  Do you spend quality time with the Lord?  Do you lift others up in prayer or just yourself and your needs?  Do you simply place requests before Him or do you ask Him how you may serve Him this day?  Do you desire to pray for others, but don’t know how or what to say?   Quiet yourself, go to your prayer closet and sit at His feet.  Praise Him for who He is and allow Him to speak to your heart all the things He wants to share with you.

Additional Scriptures:  Genesis 20:17; Numbers 21:17; 1 Samuel 1:27; Matthew 21:22; Romans 8:26; Ephesians 6:18; Colossians 4:2

“Jesus Christ carries on intercession for us in heaven; the Holy Ghost carries on intercession in us on earth; and we the saints have to carry on intercession for all men” (Oswald Chambers).

Shalom,

Prudence