My nephew caught me off guard with this one when we spoke about the Chomp Chocolates… They turned it into an acronym:
“Christus Help Ons Met Probleme” (Afrikaans for Christ Helps Us With Problems)
I thought it was rather cool to grab everyday items as a visual reminder of what Christ has done for us. Not unlike the Tefillin in the Jewish community… something to direct your attention back to God in everyday life.
But this took my mind on a bit of a ride… One thing that I am trying to get away from is to come to God as the ATM of solutions. That I come to God not in worship, or in thanksgiving, but in endless requests for wisdom, help, assistance, intervention, etc, etc…
But…
God does want us to come to Him.
Paul wrote to Timothy:
“…I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people…”
(1 Timothy 2:1)
and…
“…And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people…”
(Ephesians 6:18)
So a thought developed. What if I leave my problems at the feet of Jesus, and let the Holy Spirit intercede on my behalf (Romans 8:26), and I focus not on myself, but on those around me? What if, instead of praying for myself, and my needs, I would instead pick up the prayer chain and pray for someone else?
Learn to intercede. (Or practice to intercede more…)
Take someone else’s burden to Christ and stand in the gap for them? help them carry the weight spiritually and lay their cause at the feet of God’s Throne.
So I would like to urge you:
Would you commit with me to one of these actions…?
Ask the Holy Spirit that when you walk in a shop and you see a chocolate bar, be reminded to pray for someone…
or
For the next week or two, when you want to ask God something for yourself, don’t. Rather pray for someone else’s problems.
or
Commit to a time of day, (set an alarm, and reminders if you have to) to bring someone specific to God.
(They never need to know. It’s just between you and God.)
Be amazingly blessed this week!
