As we continue on in our intercession for others, we may find that
our obedience to God in interceding is going to cost those for whom we
intercede more than we ever thought. The danger in this is that we begin
to intercede in sympathy with those whom God was gradually lifting up
to a totally different level in direct answer to our prayers. Whenever
we step back from our close identification with God’s interest and
concern for others and step into having emotional sympathy with them,
the vital connection with God is gone. We have then put our sympathy and
concern for them in the way, and this is a deliberate rebuke to God.
It is impossible for us to have living and vital intercession unless
we are perfectly and completely sure of God. And the greatest destroyer
of that confident relationship to God, so necessary for intercession, is
our own personal sympathy and preconceived bias. Identification with
God is the key to intercession, and whenever we stop being identified
with Him it is because of our sympathy with others, not because of sin.
It is not likely that sin will interfere with our intercessory
relationship with God, but sympathy will. It is sympathy with ourselves
or with others that makes us say, “I will not allow that thing to
happen.” And instantly we are out of that vital connection with God.
Vital intercession leaves you with neither the time nor the
inclination to pray for your own “sad and pitiful self.” You do not have
to struggle to keep thoughts of yourself out, because they are not even
there to be kept out of your thinking. You are completely and entirely
identified with God’s interests and concerns in other lives. God gives
us discernment in the lives of others to call us to intercession for
them, never so that we may find fault with them.
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