Tag: intercessory prayer

• 2 Kings 21: Wicked Kings

  
  

  2 Kings 21: Wicked Kings 

  Wednesday, October 8, 2025

  Written on May 17, 2008 and posted today as a Favorite . . .

  It is easy to blame problems on wicked or ineffective leaders. It is also easy to fault ourselves and to blame our own incapabilities or weaknesses.  To explain evil by blaming others or selves is a constant human occupation; yet, it need not be so. There is always an option open to us when confronted with insurmountable obstacles or “wicked kings” of any kind. Our trouble is that when we find ourselves in the throes of conflict we cannot see the simplest of solutions, the solution which is always open to the faithful – calling on the power of God.

  The faithful who find a path of serenity amidst the turmoil and deception that surrounds them practice a simple formula which we might examine: the faithful pray intercessory petitions for those who are wicked, they trust God with their woe and their joy, they practice prudence, temperance, compassion and mercy.

  Scripture always brings us the same story: God’s desire to be with the creatures he has created, God’s yearning to be one with all, God’s willingness to sacrifice self to bring his faithful to intimate union with him. Peace and justice will prevail when the faithful see and hear this Word of God. Serenity is achieved when the Word is practiced, lived, and is made part of what we think, say and do. God might choose to make all of us good instead of stubborn and stiff-necked; but if God were to do this, God would take away our own freedom to choose good over evil. And God so loves us that God wants us to choose God, just as God has chosen us.

  We need not fear wicked kings; rather, we must pray for their healing and conversion. We must pray for their change of heart, for the unstiffening of their necks for it is in this way that we will find our own blessed center, our highest potential, our best self, the place where we are one with God.

  Perhaps this is the gift of wicked kings. They bring us to our own best hope. They bring us to the Word. They bring us to God.

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  A re-post from September 13, 2011.

  Image from: http://colombomusium.blogspot.com/2010/04/colombo-museum.html

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  October 8, 2025

  compassion, finding serenity amidst evil, ineffective leaders, intercessory prayer, mercy, prudence, temperance

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• Mark 1: 32-39: Demons, Prayer and God

  
  

  Mark 1: 32-39: Demons, Prayer and God

  Friday, September 9, 2022

  They brought to him all who were ill and possessed by demons . . .

  The word “demon”, we understand, comes from the diminutive form of the Greek word for “god,” or from the Latin “daimonium” – thus signifying an inferior divinity.  These little teeny gods must certainly be jealous of the one and true God who is all-powerful and everywhere.

  He cured many who were sick with various diseases . . .

  The small “godette” demons invade us without our knowing and steer us in directions that lead us away from God.  Perhaps I might pray for myself and others that we loosen and free ourselves from demons as often as I pray for our physical well-being.

  And rising up long before daybreak, he went out and departed into a deserted place . . .

  Many people and causes begin as good and wholesome but turn sour when they fulfill something other than the intent of God.

  where he prayed . . .

  We might form special petitions to the God of Healing and Hope for the curing of those who focus on something or someone other than God as the reason for their being.

  [They] pursued him and on finding him said, “Everyone is looking for you” . . 

  We might petition for those who are ill in any way . . . for those who appear to be well but who are not.

  So he went into their synagogues, preaching and driving out demons throughout the whole of Galilee . . .

  We might petition for those who cannot shake themselves from their personal demons, for those who are looking for Christ, and for those who have ceased to pray.

  They brought to him all who were ill and possessed by demons . . .

  We live in the realm where demons abound and so we must remember that the only antidotes for demons are . . . God and prayer.

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  Adapted from a favorite written on December 11, 2010.

  Image from: http://www.fggam.org/2015/06/dont-take-anything-for-granted/

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  September 9, 2022

  demons, intercessory prayer

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• Jeremiah 12: Plots of Darkness

  
  

  Thursday, June 13, 2020

  Jeremiah 12

  Plots of Darkness

  The prophecy of Jeremiah is a strong one and in chapter 12 we see the prophet exchanging frank words with the creator.  He enters into a dialog in which he tells God that he is unhappy because while he obeys God and abides in faithfulness the wicked prosper.  Jeremiah – the innocent lamb – works hard at doing as God asks yet he is surrounded and attacked by those who lay plots of darkness to bring about his end.  Jeremiah’s enemies, the people of Anathoth, are his own family and friends (Meeks 1136-1137) and the reason for their persecution of Jeremiah is unclear.  The point is that the prophet suffers at the hands of those who ought to be living in concord with him, and who ought to be joining him in performing good works to live in and with God.  We might find ourselves in similar situations today when those closest to us betray us, seek our end, and seem to prosper all the while.

  

  God’s response is typical of the Old Testament in that it has words of violence and revenge yet the seeds of optimism.  The New Testament, as we often remind ourselves during our Noontime reflections, is one of forgiveness and hope.  The idea of resurrection does not occur in Jewish sacred scripture until the second century before Christ in the book of Daniel, but here with Jeremiah’s second lament (the first is in chapter 11) we see the beginnings of Jesus’ message of freedom and restoration.  In verses 14 through 17 God speaks of having pity and of bringing back those who repent.  This is a clear indication that God’s hope and God’s power to restore know no bounds.  And it is a message to us today that we might try to strive for the same level of union with all . . . even those who have sought our end.

  As Saint Paul reminds us in Ephesians 5:11: Take no part in the fruitless works of darkness; rather expose them.  And we might add . . . and let God handle them.  As we have reflected often, the hardest work for any of us is this . . . to pray for those who have damaged us.  God expects us to ask for the impossible and we delight God when we seek intervention on behalf of those who do us harm because God knows that the dark depths of evil plots are beyond our skill level.  God wants to help us and so we pray . . .

  Dearest God whose love knows no bounds, you are willing to seek, to call, to forgive and to heal.  You want to mend each of us in order that we might unite ourselves with you and with one another.  Bring us the gift of humility, the grace of peace, the steadfastness of faith, the passion of hope and the touch of your love.  Allow us to express our fears and doubts and anger with you.  Let us speak about the plots of darkness that frighten us and then . . . call us back . . . calm our hearts . . . restore our spirit . . . and carry us home with you.  Amen. 

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  Adapted from a Noontime written on September 1, 2009.

  Meeks, Wayne A., Gen. Ed. HARPERCOLLINS STUDY BIBLE (NRSV). New York, New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 1989. Print.

  39.533225 -76.430369

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  June 13, 2020

  Ephesians 5:11, foregiveness, hope, intercessory prayer, restoration

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• 2 Kings 5: The Cure of Naaman

  
  

  Saturday, January 25, 2013

  2 Kings 5: The Cure of Naaman

  

  Naaman is cured of leprosy not by his faith alone but through the faith and encouragement of a small child who believes in Yahweh and the power of his prophets.  It is worth our while to read this story and examine commentary and footnotes because once we do – and this may seem unbelievable – we will find that we have a greater understanding of the modern world we live in today.

  Through the child in this story we see that prophets are not the only ones among us who are called to heal, cure and serve as instruments for miracles. We see that we are also called to heal one another either with the direct laying on of hands, or by our intercessory prayers.

  Jesus tells us in a very clear way that we must pray for our enemies: You have heard it said, “Love your neighbor and hate your enemy”.  But I tell you: Love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you . . . If you love those who love you, what reward will you get?  Are not even the tax collectors doing that?  And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?  (Matthew 5: 43-47)

  Christ constantly presents us with a world of inversion. We die in order to be born; we give in order to receive; we sit at the lowest seat in order to be called higher; we humble ourselves so that we might be exalted.  The examples Jesus gives us are endless.   Today we hear God’s urging to heal others, even those who harm us, so that we in turn are healed.

  I believe that we are called to be healers, even when wounded ourselves, because the prayers of a victim rise ever so quickly to God’s altar. God, in all of his compassion and mercy and desire to love, will reward the prayer of one who is wounded who – like God – forgives and then petitions healing for the abuser.

  We must be present in spirit to our fellow pilgrims, and when we wade into the river of forgiveness, just as Naaman enters the river Jordan, we will find that the our willingness to intercede for our enemies will wash away the things of this world.  Suddenly we find ourselves present to the Spirit. And just as suddenly we will know that we, like Naaman, will “know that there is no God in all the earth, except in Israel.”  This one God, this Yahweh, sent his son to heal us and ransom us from our dark place.   It is this God who calls us to heal one another . . . so that we in turn may be healed.

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  First written on May 31, 2007.  Re-written and posted today as a Favorite. 

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  January 25, 2020

  healing, intercessory prayer, inversion, leprosy, miracles, prophets, wounded healers

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