Did you know that we can live in God’s shadow and still have conversations about others? Yes, it is possible when we are having a conversation with God. Anyone listening to most conversations would ask, “Is it even possible to have a conversation without ever mentioning another person?” It is human nature to talk about other people. I believe that God wants us to have conversations with Him about others. I am aware this idea may sound far-fetched, but the reason for these conversations is not to pass on juicy tidbits of information to God. He already knows.
The key to understanding this is that scripture instructs us to pray for one another. The Apostle Paul lived this out. Throughout his epistles, he tells the readers many times that he is praying for them to be made complete in some aspect of Christian living. Paul was not gossiping about the people he was writing to; instead, he was praying for their spiritual welfare.
When we have conversations with God about other people, we should not be doing it to gossip to God. God is not interested in gossip. He already knows every person’s secrets. What God wants to hear is your requests on behalf of others. He wants to listen to your desire for their well-being.
We find examples of people making requests on behalf of others throughout the Bible. Abraham pleaded on behalf of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. (Genesis 18:22-33) Moses interceded on behalf of the Israelites several times. Jesus made requests on behalf of the disciples and even the believers of today. Yes, Jesus also prayed for the believers of today in John 17:20-21. Each of these cases is a situation where the person making the request did so without being asked to do so by the person for whom they were praying.
One thing I have noticed intercessory conversations with God is that they almost always are about other people. Elijah interceded on behalf of the kingdom of Israel, and God ended the three and a half year drought. Moses interceded for the Israelites, and God forgave the people. Intercession is the act of seeing others’ needs so clearly that you passionately converse with God about resolving the need, whether there is any benefit to you or not.
When we participate in intercessory prayer, we act out the fact that we believe that God hears and answers prayer. We demonstrate that we believe in prayer so strongly that we make passionate requests for God to benefit others. Moses is an example of this style of praying. While Moses was receiving the Ten Commandments, the people started worshiping an idol. Following this incident, Moses pleaded with God on behalf of the people. He prayed, “Alas, this people has sinned a great sin; they have made for themselves gods of gold. But now, if you will only forgive their sin — but if not, blot me out of the book that you have written.” Exodus 32:31-32 (NRSV) Moses was not gossiping about the people, nor was he telling God anything God did not know. He risked his life and reputation for the people he led. Even though Moses was innocent of wrongdoing, he was willing to be identified with the wrongdoers if it would cause God to forgive them.
Living in God’s shadow changes us. Dwelling near God causes us to stop being focused only on ourselves. Allowing God to make changes in us helps us recognize others’ needs and make requests for God to resolve those needs.
Writing this blog has caused me to analyze what I believe and why carefully. It has also presented questions to me. The most recent inquiry was, “How often do you pray for the readers of the blog you write?” I realized that this was an aspect that I had not given any thought. God used this question to broaden my perspective and to cause me to recognize that only writing articles to encourage others to pursue Him was not enough.
I quote the words of the Apostle Paul, “I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power.” Ephesians 1:17-19. (NRSV)
I will remember my readers in prayer this week. I challenge you to intercede for someone this week as you try to live even more passionately in God’s shadow.