“They brought a paraplegic to him, carried by four men. When they weren’t able to get in because of the crowd, they removed part of the roof and lowered the paraplegic on his stretcher. Impressed by their bold belief, Jesus said to the paraplegic, ‘Son, I forgive your sins.’” (Mark 2:3-5 MSG)
The term ‘prayer warrior’ is used to describe a person who commits to battle for others through prayer. This is a heavy responsibility. Since the Bible reminds us that the battle belongs to the Lord, perhaps we are not all called to the role of being prayer warriors. Perhaps some of us are called to the role of being ‘prayer paramedics’.
A friend of mine belongs to a prayer group that meets over Zoom. Along with their own concerns, they take time to pray diligently for others in need. They remind me of the four men who carried a paralyzed man on a stretcher to Jesus. When these men couldn’t get through the door, they broke through the roof and lowered their patient down in front of Jesus. I think of these ladies as ‘Prayer Paramedics’ --dependable, first responders who carry those who need healing to Jesus. They intercede for those who are weak, overwhelmed, disoriented, or lacking in faith. They are resourceful in finding ways to help even when there are obstacles in their way.
“Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, ‘Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!’ And the man jumped up, grabbed his mat, and walked out through the stunned onlookers. They were all amazed and praised God, exclaiming, ‘We’ve never seen anything like this before!’” (Mark 2:10-12 NLT)
In difficult times, when we are too paralyzed to get to Jesus on our own, the bold faith of ‘Prayer Paramedics’ can lead to a breakthrough. When our faith is weak, these reliable intercessors lift us into God’s presence. They stay attentive until Jesus heals and revives us. Their diligence in prayer brings glory to God.
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