One Desire Fast is HMCC’s annual fast so we can start off the year hearing from God, both individually and as a church. This year’s theme is Simple Pursuit.
Romans 8:26 ESV Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.
Imagine standing at the edge of a deep chasm, your heart heavy with unspoken burdens and worries. You long to reach out to God but find yourself at a loss for words. Have you been here? Have you ever struggled with how to pray or what to pray for? Romans 8:26 reminds us that the Holy Spirit intercedes for us in our weakness and this reassures us that we are not alone in our struggles.
“Intercede” is derived from the Latin word “cedere” which means to “go between”. When we are facing difficulty in our relationship with God and we are unsure how to communicate with Him, the Holy Spirit goes between us and God. He articulates our needs before Him and expresses our deepest longings and feelings to prayers. Recognizing that the Holy Spirit intercedes for us encourages us to do the same for others.
Intercession is a profound aspect of prayer where we stand in the gap for others, lifting them up before God. When we intercede, we are actively participating in God’s work, advocating for those who may not know how to pray for themselves. This can include praying for the needs of our church community, friends, family, and even those we encounter in our daily lives.
Letting the Holy Spirit intercede on our behalf and interceding for others through our prayer life is an act of relinquishing control and points us to desire the greater things in God’s heart. However, many of us rely on our own efforts to reach God or we ignore our calling and privilege to intercede on behalf of others. If we neglect the Holy Spirit’s role as our intercessor, our spiritual lives will be burdened with human efforts to mend our relationship with God. If we disregard our role to intercede for the people in our lives, we’ll completely miss out on the joy of building up God’s people and there will be a constant dissatisfaction because we’re disobeying God.
As we cling to our convictions and persevere in the fast, let’s embrace the promise that in our weakness, the Spirit’s intercession reconnects us with the Father. Let’s commit to embracing the power of prayer and intercession in our lives, especially not only to pray for our own needs but also for the needs of others, allowing our hearts to expand in love and compassion. This might involve praying for our six-year Saturate vision, our current year Pursuit vision, or interceding for our purpose being placed in Kwun Tong area. Together, may we become vessels of hope and healing in our community, confident that we can witness revival in our generation!
Reflection and Application
- What aspects of your life require intercession for which you don’t know how to even pray for it? How can you intercede for others who are struggling in their relationship with God?
- Reflect on a time when you experienced or witnessed the power of prayer in a community setting. What impact did it have on you and those around you?
- Identify the specific challenges or struggles faced by your age group or sphere of influence that you can pray for. How can you invite God’s intervention and revival in those areas?
Prayer Requests – Covenant
- GROW with God & others – in our walk with God, in our marriages, our families, & our community.
- GIVE our time, treasures, & talents – bless our families, our church, & our city.
- GO serve & reach others – be on God mission to share the Gospel in our church, neighborhood, workplace, & city.
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