Sometimes I have a hard time discerning what is prayer and what is just conversation. I have been to plenty of prayer “meetings”, and they usually turned out to be a round table of people talking about their ideas and thoughts. There was no form of prayer whatsoever. Still others proclaim that this is the place to be, “We are coming to intercede for our nation”, but again, nothing of the sort happens and it turns out to be people on the microphone talking about their personal experiences and thoughts. Again, not the intercession I imagined intercession to be.

Here is my “concept” of intercession. Men and women of God coming together with a like mind and like purpose to lift up in prayer a sitution, an event, a church, leadership, our city and even our nation. That their is a continuous line of prayer, worship and praise being lifted up. That we don’t take this personal time with God to give account of the weekend I had with family or friends. It’s not an atmosphere of sharing my personal beliefs, and the many things I have been a part of. It’s about God. It’s about asking Him to move his hand in an area where only He can make the difference. Not regaling my fellow man with tales of valor and glory at the local supermarket.

Persistent widow anyone? She had a sole purpose and intent when she began knocking on her master door. She had a mind set in stone as to what she wanted. There was not going to be anything that deterred her from her purpose. We must come to God in the same manner. I cannot allow the business of the day, week or month to side track me from the greater purpose I have, and that is to be in relationship with my Savior, and serve my heavenly Father according to His will. How will I know what that will is, if I do not spend time with Him in prayer? How I will know the character of God unless I spend time in His living word?

Don’t get caught up in the hype. Don’t allow yourself to be distracted from the vision that is before you. Don’t lose the foundation of our first love, which is Jesus. There is coming a day, perhaps soon, when God will truly separate the wheat from the chaff. Which of the virgins are you?