Prayer is our intercession, it is our hope.  So often, we try to go to battle against the flesh and we fail to recognize our need for intercessory prayer.  We forget to pray and we forget the importance of others praying on our behalf.  God did not leave us here on earth to fight this battle alone.  As Christians, we need communion with other Christians.  That perhaps is something that I forget at times.  We need each other.  I must say that it is the intercessory prayer of many dear friends which have carried me through.  Just as Moses stood in prayer while Joshua fought the Amalekites,

we need dear Christians who pray for us.

And as Moses prayed for during this great symbolic battle of flesh against the spirit, his arms were held up by Aaron and Hur. (Exodus 17:8-16) Prayer teams are needed to help us in our battles.  This past year I faced a huge battle for God, fought within my very heart and soul- battle to hold onto God’s truth in the midst of conflict.  I could not have done so without the prayer team from Leading the Way and the prayers of a dear Christian lady, Iris Rice. My other prayer teams included Mom, Millie, John Michael, Delores, Rochelle, and Anne. A special thanks to Millie and John Michael is due as they have been dear accountability partners to whom I could confess all my failures in those times when the battle seemed too hard or I became filled with fear and doubt—without judging they reminded me always of who I am in Christ. God did not leave us here to fight alone.  He is there; He is the victory.  Yet, He has so chosen that we

reach out to other Christians to be our intercessory team.  We are to pray for our pastors, our leaders, and our friends; just as Paul prayed for each of the churches and people He wrote to; while at the same time asking for their prayer.  We all need each other and that was why God has said, “²⁴ And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:²⁵ Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” (Hebrews 10)

So, what are the keys we need to learn today?

1.  Be a prayer partner for someone.

2.  With God’s guidance, find yourself an accountability partner—someone who can listen when you need to confess your failures, nonjudgmental and who will help you to refocus on God’s grace.

3. Always remember that even though we may be pilgrims on this earthly journey, we need each other.

4. Join a church and never forsake listening to the gospel.

5. Lift the pastor or pastors that you worship under up to prayer each day.

© 2014 Effie Darlene Barba

Artwork used by permission of Ronald Barba.  © 2010 Ronald Barba.  This artwork is copyright protected.  If you desire a copy please go to:  http://fineartamerica.com/featured/broken-and-contrite-heart-ronald-barba.html

Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to any brands, products or services that I have mentioned with the exception of my own book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides regarding the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”