Category: Intercession

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Conversation with God Discipleship Discipleship, Getting Help Fire Getting Help Intercession Lessons Prayer Praying Shepherdess Spiritual Warfare

HOLY SMOKE!

(A Powerful Shifter)

By: Praying Shepherdess

Approximate read time: 3-4 minutes

No, No, No! Don’t put out this fire! Get out the firepan (for holding live coals)!

Intercession, prayer, pleading or making request before Abba (our Heavenly Father), CAN make a BIG difference! It’s one “column of clean smoke” you don’t want to snuff out! Take a look at this:

I looked for a man among them who would make up the hedge and stand in the gap before Me for the land so I would not destroy it, but I found none…Ezekiel 22:30

Check this out:

Aaron intercedes (to go or come between) for a rebellious complaining people, running through the crowd with a fire-pan that has incense burning on it. With that act, a plague, that has already killed 14,700 people is stopped! Numbers 16:46-50 (17:11-15 Hebrew Bible format)

Abraham intercedes for any righteous people who might be living in Sodom. The angels agree. There weren’t ten righteous, but before destroying the city, the angels did bring Lot and part of his family out. Genesis 18:23-33 (19:15-17 Hbf)

Moses intercedes many times for a rebellious complaining people with the effect of God averting the deserved judgment! Numbers 11:1,2, 12:11-15, 14:11-20, 21:7-9, Exodus 32:11-14 (to name a few)

Fast forward:

Time of great tribulation – we see the firepans/censers and incense again. Revelation 5:8, 8:3,4

They are mentioned before the seals are opened, and again before the trumpets are sounded.

The prayers/intercessions of the righteous are caused to ascend with the smoke of the incense to be presented to God. Revelations 8:3,4

Could we possibly make a difference in the outcome of some things?

Are the prayers of the humble remnant a part of why/how there is a shortening of the time of tribulation, and/or some other aspect of the “wrap-up?” (See Matthew 24:22, Mark 13:20) Just a thought.

Think about this:

It was prophesied, as instructed by YHWH, accounted in the book of Jonah, that Ninevah would be destroyed for its wickedness. In response the people in Ninevah turned from their wickedness. YHWH forgave them, and God’s judgment was averted.

When Daniel interpreted Nebuchadnezzar’s tree stump dream, Daniel counseled Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 4:24) to turn from his sins and to reach out the poor and needy (signifying his heart truly was aligning with God. See Isaiah 58,🕐 1:27, 5:16, II Samuel 22:21). Daniel let him know that his turning from sin and turning to God’s ways perhaps would avert the judgment that had been revealed to him in the dream.

Think of this:

In light of Ezekial 22:30, is it possible that the prayers of Stephen, requesting, “Lord, lay not this sin to their charge,” “moved” God to extend His grace and invitation to Saul, a zealous murderer of the followers of Yeshua, for a life-changing redemption?! It certainly changed his life for the better, and made life easier for others! Acts 7:58,59, 9:1-22

I’m reminding us that sometimes God will avert His judgment because someone is interceding.

The plea of a righteous person is very powerful, working effectively! James/Yaacob 5:16c

(I have heard someone teach, though, that when a “Woe” is pronounced it is a sure thing; the judgment will happen.)

So, on the “other side” of the firepan, God has made mankind with a free-will, freedom of choice. He still honors that installment today.

What we loose on earth is loosed in heaven. What we bind on earth is bound in heaven. That’s why what happened to Ahab happened to him! He continually chose to follow evil (was in agreement with), and the court of heaven finally issued a “warrant for his arrest” (demise, done, dead – No more)! I Kings 16:30-33, 21:25,26, 22:19-22, II Chronicles 18:18-21, Matthew 18:18

As it says in Ezekiel 22:31, 33:20, Zechariah 1:6, Revelations 18:6 (and dozens of other places), God gives back to us according to our own choosing. He is righteous in doing so! Revelations 16:6,7, 19:2…

And yet,

He desires that each of us turn from those things in our lives that don’t line up with His heart, His mind, His will, His ways.

He encourages us to “CHOOSE LIFE!”

And, it seems that He is often open to the opportunities that come when someone chooses to intercede for those who are in danger, or heading in a dangerous direction!

We see these things in Deut 30:15-20, Ezek 22:30, 21:30,32, 18:23,32, 33:11

Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die, says Adonai YHWH, and not that he should return from his ways and live?!…

For I have no pleasure in the death of the one who dies, says Adonai YHWH. Therefore, turn yourselves back and live!

The last part of Ezekial 22:30 is the “kicker:”

…I found no one

[to stand in the gap; to come in between the offender and the effect he has coming to him; to intercede; to pray]

therefore I have poured out My indignation upon them.

D i d y o u h e a r t h a t?!

…therefore [because no one was willing to intercede] I have poured out my indignation upon them.

Some sobering things to consider.

Would we be willing to humble ourselves before God and say, with Isaiah,

I am unclean!

And then, as God is graciously cleansing us and inviting us to serve Him in His kingdom, to say,

Here I am, Lord –

USE ME!

If we would stand in the gap, whose life might be changed for the better, and those around him?

What tremendous impact could we have for, and what delight could we bring to our deserving King?!

********************

Pass it on!

Copyright: Praying Shepherdess

This article may be shared only in entirety, or excerpts (which maintain author’s concept), changing nothing, and with entire copyright and permission notice included,

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and is granted only to anyone wanting to share the awesomeness of our Creator, the supernatural God of the Bible, YHWH Tsebaoth!

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Conversation with God Empath HSP Intercession Key Article Spiritual Gift

HSP’s, Empaths, Intercession, & Conversations with God

Reaching Out – by Toa Heftiba, Unsplash.com

As you start reading, please read slowly to take this all in. Some parts of this may be new to you, and I have to get to key points fairly quickly. So…thanks!

HSP’s are Highly Sensitive Persons.

Empaths, all empaths, are HSP’s. Not all HSP’s are empaths.

In Christian biblical terms, we might call empaths people with a Gift of Knowledge. Specifically, the kind of knowledge about how others experience things. Such as pain or other feelings.

I am an Empath. Sometimes I feel other people’s pain and mistake it for my own. But when I try to manage it, which I can do at least to some degree with my own personal pain, I cannot change someone else’s pain by trying to manage my own. When this happens, it’s a good clue that I am empathetically experiencing someone else’s pain.

So what do I do to make things better? Pray for the person to whom the pain belongs – sometimes I will know who it is, other times I may not know, and that’s okay. I can just pray for the person whose pain this is. God knows; and in intercession, this is enough!

Intercession helps in two ways: it helps the person being prayed for. God will help them. It helps me, because I cannot pray for someone else’s pain and continue to mistake it for my own pain.

So what does this have to do with Conversations with God?

Great question.

What an Empath experiences through a Gift of Knowledge is information provided through the Holy Spirit to us – through God. So experiencing physical or emotional pain that belongs to someone else comes through Holy Spirit; comes through God, to us.

That is God speaking to us, in effect.

And how we respond is our answer or reply to God. So when an Empath prays for someone, knowing something about what they are experiencing, our response is our response to what God is, in effect, speaking to us.

Someone once said that, “English is not God’s first language.” And so we have to become used to the different ways in which God speaks to us. When we receive inspiration or information from God, that is us hearing God “speak” to us. What we do in response is our answer, our answer to God.

Empathic realization of someone else’s pain – or a Word of Knowledge, is God speaking to us, and what we do in response is our response to what God has “said” to us. It is us speaking back to God.

There is much more to learn about this sort of thing. And much more to learn about the ways God speaks to us and how we can respond. But these points are new to a lot of us. And explanations of Empaths and HSP’s are usually much longer and more detailed. This is pretty compact. (You can find books on these subjects, as well as articles on the Internet.)

God speaks to us in many ways, and our response is what we are “saying” to God.

Review your life and people you know…things you have seen, heard or read. Consider this kind of larger paradigm of what can be a two-way conversation with God.

There is so much to learn from God and through God. And learning to have good and useful two-way conversations with God is one of the most important things we can do.

You can ask Jesus how to pray, and notice what Holy Spirit “says” to you. What you see or hear – and minister more like Jesus. That’s just a start!

Follow any of the red key tags or ideas at the top of this article to see other articles that may interest you or that are related. Follow links in this article to find some articles that may be useful or helpful to you.

And ask God to guide you. Be alert for what happens. What happens next, what happens later. Some conversations with God are over a long period of time; some are very quick – more quick than we may think.

And by all means, let me know what you think, what questions you have, what you’d like to explore next.

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Discipleship Empath Healing Intercession Ministry Prayer Prophecy

Putin Needs Prayer

Putin Needs Love and Needs Prayer

Look at pictures of President Putin. Something is clearly wrong. He is suffering, and he looks to me like someone who has been under attack.

We are to pray for our enemies.

We are to pray for leaders, that there may be peace in the land.

Ukraine is, as I write this, under attack. Fighters on all sides and families and others – suffer.

Putin is, I believe, the unfortunate target of spiritual warfare, and it has not been going good for him.

And because he is a leader, it is going badly for many, many other people.

Please pray for President Putin. He is in anguish, tortured, and the pain has been spreading.

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Discipleship Intercession Key Article Kingdom of God Ministry Prayer

Ministry Size & Fame

Public Ministry is Like Being on a Stage

Most of us are called to minister in our sphere of influence. There is a deep satisfaction to ministering where we are to people we can touch with the Kingdom of God.

This is a safe place to practice, learn, and minister in. Your ego will be tempted far less than in some other spheres. It’s a good idea to start where you are, and to follow Holy Spirit as in Galatians 5. The Fruit is good!

I notice that when I minister in my sphere of influence, Holy Spirit often noticeably helps. I feel safe, secure, helpful. Inspired. Temptations of my ego and flesh are minimal. Holy Spirit moves.

Please notice for yourself what it is like for you when you minister in your sphere of influence.

Then there is the Normal Christian Pattern of Ministry Growth. That Jesus taught, his disciples followed, and ministry and church growth – Kingdom of God spreading – was rapid and overcame the Roman Empire. (Until Constantine when they started using expensive buildings and stopped Christians from ministering and turned most of them into passive participants. That’s another story.)

Jesus sent disciples out in pairs. See Mathew 10 & Luke 10. Go. Go minister. Jesus even gives directions on how to do this without money or buildings. Sent people go out in pairs. Take little with them. Depend on resources to live from where they stay, in houses of peace. Ministering to the people who know and are in contact with a house of peace is easy. As healing happens, as people are set free, you become busy.

Be not burdened with seeking fame, money, or expensive buildings that eat up resources for ministry. Follow the pattern in the Gospels. Share the Good News of the Kingdom. Heal the sick. Free the bound. Some people will be eager to learn more: make disciples, of all sorts of people. Disciples that meet together are the start of an ecclesia – often translated as church.

(A church is a gathering of believers, not an expensive building.)

Doing these things will cause increasing numbers of people being ministered to, healed and set free. You will become busy as word gets out – the need is great and there are many in great need. Disciples who plant ecclesias will multiply, and multiply, and the numbers can become amazing before too long.

This is a simple and powerful pattern that Jesus demonstrated, taught, and that his Disciples followed. This pattern still works today.

A few are called – a few – to larger and more public ministry. These are few, and the traps and dangers are many: various temptations. Big expenses and big egos are rampant. Selling the current culture of entertainment works, and becomes part of ministries – too often without Holy Spirit. Tricks of theater can become ineffective substitutes for Holy Spirit, as can enlarged egos of people who seek fame.

Theater skills and lessons can be used well in ministry. Some do this on a full time basis, some part of the time. Too many are distracted by worldly fame and worldly methods – this is not a path that is safe or good for everyone! Take care. Follow Holy Spirit, always; and you will be doing well. For Jesus sends us Holy Spirit for such reasons as these.


The most successful ministers and ministries have intercessors – before, during and after ministry. (This is true whether ministry be large or small; is part of the the Normal Pattern of Ministry Growth that Jesus gave us. Jesus sent people out in pairs. One prays while the other ministers, I was taught early on – and this works amazingly well.)

Teams of intercessors leads to more effective and powerful ministries.

Best is to always minister where God calls you to minister. If you are not clear, ask for more of Holy Spirit. Then ask for where you are to minister. Usually you will not be given a grand plan or a grand assignment. Usually you will be given a single step to follow and do, where you will learn what you need for future next steps.

You will make mistakes and run into obstacles. Holy Spirit will show you what’s next, as you continue to learn. We love our successes and learn most from our failures. After five or six good failures, your ministry will likely be taking off.

You may become famous or have acclaim. If this is for the glory of God, you and your ego and flesh may be safe from temptation.

Seek first the praise of God.

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Create Discipleship Faith Getting Help Hearing God Holy Spirit Intercession Joy Prayer Purpose

Intention & Intuition

Intuition reveals what or how, intention helps you accomplish your target

Here’s an interesting and fun way to look at Intention & Intuition.

From the point of view of how we humans experience things, intention and intuition are the same thing, but going in different directions. Let me explain. And try to put this into words.

Especially when experienced as the Still Small Voice of God, we experience deep intuition as something that comes into us from outside. We receive it on the inside, but it doesn’t really come from us.

We experience intention as something inside us with which we want to use to change the world outside of us.

Intuition comes from outside of us into the deep center of us, often transforming us. Intention goes out through our deep center into the world outside of us, changing the world.

(I’m trying to put into words things that are far deeper than words. Not everyone will describe these experiences the same way.)

Intuition is heard or experienced through our Still Center, a place of stillness that feels like the very center of our being. This is where we experience the Small Still Voice of God. We experience intuition as coming from outside of us into the inside.

Intention is felt or experienced through our Still Center, as something that is already inside of us and with which we intend to affect the universe outside of us. We experience intention ad coming from the inside of us and going out into the world.

It’s an odd and unusual thought, but intuition and intention have far more in common than has been recognized. They might even be the same thing, just coming from and going to opposite directions.

In terms of how humans experience two-way conversation with God, intuition is vital for hearing from God. Praying in the Spirit may be related to intention. I have often prayed with intention, especially after hearing from God.

Hearing from God and praying to God seems very much related to intuition and intention, at least sometimes.

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Authority Faith Intercession Prayer

Command! – Never Negotiate with Evil

Consider: What are We Doing?  – Herb Otter, Jr.

Tell Your Mountain to Move!

It is said history repeats itself.  Well, sorta…. Events and periods of time occur that are unique so they are given a name so we can tell one from the other.  However, although different, there are patterns that are repeated over and over again.  It generally is good versus evil, good guy versus bad guy.

As I write, we are truly in a unique period of time.  So much is happening to us, to our area, to our country and to our world.  Any period of time can be defined that way; but it appears that at this moment we are facing some of the biggest issues we have ever faced.  In a historical as well as biblical sense, this is a major time of GOOD vs EVIL.

During an earlier time, the world faced a threat of world domination by Japanese as well as German empires.  Most of us were not around and only know there was a war in the mid-20th century.  However, at the time experts agreed that the allies, as the good guys were called, could not win the war against the greatest armies of that period.  For a time, America was unprotected after Pearl Harbor; Australia considered moving its relatively small population to the south in order to protect them from the expected Japanese assault; Britain barely survived an invasion from Germany.  Germany and Japan were printing money in English for the expected takeover of the USA.  Could it have happened regardless of the formidable outback, the huge determined American continent and the British nerve?  Maybe.

Even if they couldn’t beat us many believe – which even was reflected in slogans of the time – that to win the war or at least stop the tyranny it would take until the late 1940s or even beyond.  That’s almost a decade.  As it happened, from Pearl Harbor until the German surrender was less than 3 and a half years.  We didn’t have a lot to begin with and it that relatively short period of time defeated one of the greatest fighting forces ever assembled, with Japan surrendering soon thereafter.  

In 1776, we were at war as a new nation against the mightiest of empires known to man.  We definitely at that time had no chance of winning ….. but we did.

In 1989 the Berlin wall came down without a shot fired.  Talk about impossible.

Christians… believers… all know that Good is stronger than evil.  But many times evil wins.

What happened that was different in the above.  People of prayer, and especially those who believe what GOD has promised.  And the Bible has thousands of promises.

In the revolutionary war, the clergy lead the charge of freedom; Washington himself was continually on his knees and the new leaders put their lives on the line betting a country could be formed based on the LOVE OF GOD.  It proved true.

In world war II, the churches were more prominent than they are currently and people knew the dangers.  They prayed.  There were no ships… a man prayed .. ships were built quickly.  Patton prayed, and the weather was with him to win a battle.  People prayed, and the biggest and riskiest invasion of France was successful.

People from many countries prayed, and the walls of Germany were torn down by regular people.

In the natural; in logical thinking none of this was possible.  So prayers of many were provided, but not just wishing prayers.  Jesus said for us… not HIM… to speak to the mountain.  Don’t talk about the mountain, don’t negotiate with the mountain.  Command the mountain to go.  We personally can’t pick up that mountain, but if it’s in our way… whatever that “mountain” is… it must go if we have the FAITH OF GOD and accept that authority.  

That means what we see or what we reason to be is not the truth.  The truth is our desired outcome.  We speak to the mountain – and we do not let the mountain speak to us and tell us what is to be!

The early Americans wanted freedom only GOD could provide.  Extended war and failure was not an option for the events of the 40’s.  Tyranny under the Iron Curtain was not GOD’S best.

The mountains moved.

The world currently is in crisis.  It’s historical, and it’s biblical.  Many people are praying.  As before, we are to move the mountains.  We are not obligated to repeat what experts tell us.  We are told to follow this sequence or expect this or that.  They tell us hope is way off.  WE DO DOT PRAY WHAT WE SEE OR HEAR.  We pray what we want to happen … period.  God’s way is better than ours.  There is no compromise; we don’t negotiate.  Like Jesus, we don’t negotiate with evil – ever! We believe and set the process up for the impossible surprises of GOD.   We bind the evil; we curse the disease; we pray for heaven to come down to earth.  We don’t need a flowchart; we want to move things out and bring in the good in the eternal NOW of GOD.

Don’t be like Pharaoh who when asked when to get rid of the Frogs, he said tomorrow.  What’s wrong with today?

Guest Contributor: Herb Otter, Jr.

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Intercession Jesus Ministry Pain Purpose

Empathic or Spiritual Gift?

Jesus is my Pastor – empathic and gifted

You might not know; you may even be doing both – being empathic and receiving a Word of Knowledge – one of the Spiritual gifts – about someone else.

Add compassion, like Jesus, to your gentle awareness of pain – the healing and ministry is better, easier, faster.

You can do these things for others, especially when you have a Word of Knowledge that allows you to feel and experience what is going on with the other person. You can often do this for others in intercessory prayer.

I wonder if this is is how Jesus sometimes healed. I think probably so.

Jesus as the Word who created all, including us, has given us these gifts to gently and lovingly use.

Jesus literally has created us to heal trauma and pain.

What amazing and wonderful gifts he has given us.

And he has sent Holy Spirit to help us discover, learn about and do these things. Which, with our Helper and Guide, goes so much better, easier and better.

So do as he told us, and as he showed us. Heal pain and trauma in yourself and others with gentle compassion and Holy Spirit.

Do not wait, do not be passive. He tells us today, go: heal the sick and free the bound. With gentle compassion and love, go forth and heal. You do these things.

He has equipped us and given us all we need to do as he says.

Those of you who are (HSP’s) Highly Sensitive Persons or who are highly empathic have been especially equipped to heal this way, with your gentle, compassionate and loving attention, first with front of the mind awareness, then with back of the mind awareness which resolves trauma and speeds healing along. These are gifts from our Creator, the Word. Jesus.

And, you can always ask Holy Spirit to adjust your emotions, energy body, and relationships.

What an amazing and wonderful Lord he is!

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Discipleship Getting Help Intercession Prayer

Prayer & Ministry Targets

joshua-earle-9idqIGrLuTE-unsplash

What are prayer and ministry targets? Prayer for and ministry to people and situations where you can see the wanted results as the Kingdom of God spreads.

Answers to prayer with targets that you can see for yourself. Fruit of ministry that can you can see and and appreciate.

Too few people know this. It’s a sort of secret. More people should know: most prayer gets results, and quickly. With wonderful speed. Most ministry yields good fruit – with very good and rapid results.

Why do not more people know? Why are we ourselves so slow to recognize and see this? Well, for me, it’s anxiousness for wanted results. We focus so much on results we want and do not see that we focus less on our Lord. We focus on so much we do not notice how rapid the results usually are, because we’ve moved on to the next thing we do not have or do not see. And we focus on and remember our pain and disappointments more than on our joy and successes.

It’s sort of amazing that we have enough faith to get so much done. But we look at results so little because we focus on the next thing we do not yet experience or have.

In your Prayer Journal or elsewhere (I used index cards) note what you pray for and what you minister for – and note the results and date each of these. You will be as astounded as I was to discover that most prayer yields excellent results and most ministry bears good fruit. And you will delight at the speed. And you will wonder why this sometimes doesn’t happen – you will investigate and learn.

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Holy Spirit Intercession Ministry Miracles

A Secret to Powerful Ministry

There are a few secrets to powerful ministry. This is one.

I am surprised & delighted at how many powerful ministries do this.

When I remember to get this done, even a little, my ministry is stronger, better, more powerful. I am more gifted and smarter. The people I serve pull out the best in me so well they help me do my best – better than I knew I could do. I learn a lot through the people I am ministering to.

It’s simple. Prayer support. The more prayer support the better!

Here are some ideas about how to do this:

  • Jesus sent people in pairs to minister, and he gave us this standard. You minister with someone else; this is how you normally do ministry with the standard set by Jesus. So while one talks, the other prays – for the person ministering. That Holy Spirit inspires and helps.
  • When you go somewhere to minister, have your personal and ministry intercessor teams pray for you and your ministry. You and your family are more safe when prayed for. Ministry is more powerful, effective and inspired when you prayed for.
  • At a place of ministry, have intercessors. Always, always, always have a ministry prayer team. If no one else, have your ministry partner pray. Add people who are there already. Even non-believers. (Doing this plants powerful seeds in non-believers.)
  • When teaching in a local church or elsewhere, ask some to intercede for you. Ask everyone to pray for you also, that you minister with more inspiration, love and power.

Many of us expect that intercessors should pray for the person being ministered to. My experience and that of some I’ve learned from tells me it’s most effective that the power of prayer goes through you to the person being ministered to. Explore this and find out for yourself.

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Anointing Conversation with God Discipleship Getting Help Healing Intercession Ministry Prayer

Experience Ministering with Jesus

So…by now I hope you are praying well – having conversations with Father, Jesus, &/or Holy Spirit: one God, three Persons. Getting answers quickly. Getting guidance and persisting. If you are having difficulty hearing God, doing one thing appears to be especially valuable.

I’ll focus on Jesus – which is easier for many of us and is a splendid fallback position when you are not doing as well or being as resourceful as you prefer. You can talk to one, two, or all of the Trinity – one at a time or together.

This is your genuine family. The root and basis of who you really are.

Remember how Jesus ministers: doing as Father shows him or tells him. You can do the same.

So…to minister with Jesus, or through Jesus when you need to depend on him even more and especially when you are not ready to be more active, here’s how to experience this.

Pray. Talk to Jesus. Listen, sense, watch – receive guidance and answers. Ask how to pray. In active ministry, it’s especially valuable to converse quickly and get helpful responses. Here’s how to get quick and reliable guidance from God about how to pray.

Tell Jesus what’s on your heart. Ask for guidance or how to pray, just as in the links above. Or, when you want to intercede and ask God to help – ask Jesus to take care of what is already on your heart. It’s a brilliant way to intercede. Intercession is asking God to do something for someone – so literally do this!

Minister with Jesus. Minister through Jesus. You can do this. And it’s as easy as having a conversation. Because that’s what prayer is – having a conversation where you share your heart and where you are attentive to and allow Jesus to share his heart with you.

He loves you that much. He wants to minister that much. He wants to minister with you and through you. And he loves it when you minister with him – and when you minister through him. He loves this much.

So minister with Jesus. Minister through Jesus. Love and serve, with and through our Lord and Savior. You can do this! He makes it easy.

Put your compassion to work. Add your faith – you only need a teeny, mustard seed size bit of faith. Or have someone pray with you and allow them to use their faith. This is one of many excellent reasons for having prayer partners. (More on Prayer Partners, soon.)