His Prayer Team

Photo by khrawlings

I was blessed once again to serve on the prayer team at the women's retreat this past weekend. I won't lie; it's not always a cake walk. You are expected to sacrifice your free time to serve on the team. You can't spend lots of time with friends. And it drains almost everything you've got to pray for women who are going through intense suffering in their lives. Their pain becomes your pain, their burden your burden.

But these are mere pittances compared to the priceless gift of being called to intercessory prayer.

This truth hit home today as I read in Matthew 26 about Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. As you might recall, this was His last stop before the religious leaders arrested Him and led him to the inquisition with Caiaphas. Jesus knew the harsh reality of what was coming and, because of it, He wanted to invest time in prayer.

The twelve disciples were with Him, but He chose only three--Peter, James, and John--to be a part of His "special forces" prayer team. They could see that He was experiencing crushing sorrow, and He was giving them the opportunity to keep vigil with Him. These three were nearby when He prayed the immortal words, "O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will." But they had fallen asleep and missed hearing what He said.

It's a sad story of a missed opportunity.

Those whom Jesus invites to pray with Him are blessed to be a part of His inner circle. These favored ones get to participate in God's work and become first-hand witnesses to the beauty of His miracles. The intercessors also get a glimpse of something even more beautiful: His heart.

One of the things I love most about praying for a woman one-on-one is that as I begin to pray, a great and unspeakable love begins bubbling forth in my spirit. I have come to recognize it as God's love, His tender and merciful heart toward her. Profound joy overflows as I realize that He loves me the same way.

Just as Jesus invited the three to pray, He invites me daily to His Prayer Team to intercede for those who are hurting. I have to make a choice. Will I stay back with the rest of the crowd and miss the blessing? Will I slumber and fail to hear what He says? Or will I join Him and apprehend the mysteries of His wonderous love?

"Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." Matthew 26:41