“Are any of you sick? You should call for the elders of the church to come and pray over you...” (James 5:14 NLT)
If you are in a serious car accident and you are injured, you would instinctively call out for help. But what if you are unable to do so? If you are unconscious or too debilitated to reach out for assistance, you would hope that someone else would call the first responders for you.
There are times in our lives when we are so overwhelmed with trouble that we do not even have the ability to seek God. We are desperate for assistance, but we are completely exhausted and hopeless.
There are also times when we are witnesses to suffering. The afflicted person may be unconscious or unable to call out to God.
Sometimes we need a praying friend who will call for help in our stead; a person who will wait with us until the Lord takes over.
Sometimes we need to be the praying friend. Whenever we witness a person in pain, we can’t look the other way or drive by impatiently. We must call out to God and wait until He responds.
Intercession does not require special skills--only attentiveness, empathy, and compassion. Witnesses are not expected to save or solve--they are simply to call for help. Pray over those who are unconscious, voiceless, or exhausted. Stay with them. Wait upon the Lord together.
I cannot thank you too much for being that person for Bob and for my strength as his caregiver.
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