Today, I have a migraine. Actually, let me back that up a bit. Today is actually Day 3 of this particular migraine. It’s a doozy. But praise the Lord, I am able to type right now only because it is lifting. If you suffer from migraines, you know what I mean by “lifting.” It’s like a heavy cloud of pain and sensitive nerves and confusion and emotion just start lifting out of the top of your head. But I’m getting ahead of myself.
I just came from the chiropractor’s office. Sometimes – not all the time – my migraines are the result of a misalignment in my spine, often in the head or neck area. Given the softball-sized lump at the base of my cervical spine yesterday, I knew I needed an adjustment. I was sitting in the waiting room looking a frightful mess when a friend from elementary school messaged me. I don’t speak to this friend often, but he has an uncanny knack for messaging me when I’m in need. He randomly says, “Do you need prayer today?” I reply with an enthusiastic “Yes,” and then simply state that I have a migraine. So he types a prayer out for me, and my reading of said prayer is interrupted by the chiropractor coming out to get me. I go into the office and receive an incredibly painful adjustment. It’s just not normally like this. It hurt so much I’m immediately nauseous and almost throw up right there in his office. But by the time I leave, I realize the throbbing in my head is not as severe.
I get in the car, pick up my phone, finish reading my friend’s prayer over me, and then another message from him comes through. It says, “Can you feel it getting better? Did your neck pop?”
Ummmm…. I never told this guy I was at the chiropractor. I never mentioned my neck or that my migraine was stemming from there.
THIS, my friends, is the gift of intercessory prayer. My friend has it in spades. He lives on the other side of the country and we haven’t spoken in months, yet he knew EXACTLY how to pray for me today.
Scripture says that even when we don’t know how or what to pray, the Holy Spirit intercedes on our behalf.
“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.”
romans 8:27-28
When we go to the Lord in prayer for others, we don’t need fancy words or eloquent speeches. Sometimes we have no words at all, and that’s okay, too. Just invite the Spirit to come and sit with you in your prayer time. He will lead you in what to say or not say. Trust that the Lord knows your heart. Spend some time simply focusing on His holy presence.
And like my friend, don’t hesitate to let others know you are praying for them! When God does miraculous things, it’s not solely for our benefit, but also for the benefit of others. Share what the Lord has done and continues to do for you and those you love.
Prayerfully HIS,
Expressively HIS ... 