Intercession

REFLECTION,

I spend a lot of time thinking about myself.  Some of these thoughts are simple, like, what I am going to eat for dinner.  Some thoughts are complex, like, what is my purpose in life.  A lot of my thoughts are in between simple and complex.  I think about what I want to do and how I can get it done.  I think about my health and what I need to do to be healthy.  I think about how to fit exercise into my day, and whether the food I’m eating is unhealthy.  I think about how to earn more money, how to save money, and what I should (or shouldn’t) spend it on.  I spend a lot of time thinking about myself.  And I spend time praying for myself.  I ask God to help me with these things that I think about myself.  I pray, Lord, what is my purpose?  Lord, heal me.  Lord please bless me with the things that I need and the things I want.    This is what I’m supposed to do, right?  It’s natural to think of myself and what is in my best interest.  And it’s certainly right to pray to God to help me with these things.  But, when Jesus was asked what’s most important, He said, Love God with your whole self, and love your neighbor as you love yourself.  Love others, the way that you love yourself.  The way you love yourself. Others.

INTERCESSION.

Heavenly Father, I honor you as my Creator.  In Your hands I am fearfully and wonderfully made.  Because You created me, and You sustain me, and because You gave Your life that I might live, my life is valuable.  Furthermore, because You created us all, and sustain us all, and because You gave Your precious life so that we might live, all our lives are valuable.  So, all of the good things I wish for myself I also wish for my neighbors.  I pray that those around me experience good health.  I ask that you bless my neighbors with the things they need to live and the good things that they want.  Lord, I pray that you pour out Your wisdom into all humanity.  Eternal God, I ask that you help us to live in harmony with one another – that You remove evil intentions and violent tendencies from those who are plagued with them.  Father, I pray that you help us to protect those who are vulnerable, to comfort those who are miserable, to feed those who are hungry, and to befriend those who are lonely.  God of Heaven, I intercede with you on behalf of all my neighbors and ask that everything that I want for myself that you do for them too.  In Christ name I pray.  Amen.