This is an extension of yesterdays subject–intercessory prayer.  Often I think we use prayer as a way to talk to God about our lists–kinda using God as our “Sugar Daddy.”  Other times we pray with a desire for someone’s life to be spared or a serious problem to be remedied.  It’s a different version of the “Sugar Daddy” thing, but seems much more serious and we are even more urgent in our cry out to God–but do we consider His plan and will in the matter?

Mix your tears with blood, pray with the heart and intention of Christ.

Beware of thinking that intercession means bringing our own personal sympathies and concerns into the presence of God, and then demanding that He do whatever we ask.  Our ability to approach God is due entirely to the vicarious, or substitutionary, identification of our Lord with sin.  We have “boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus.” . . . . We have to realize that the identification of Jesus with sin means a radical change of all of our sympathies and interests.  Vicarious intercession means that we deliberately substitute God’s interests in others for our natural sympathy with them.  —Oswald Chambers

Never forget the bigger picture–it’s not about here and now–it’s about eternal salvation.  Sometimes our “problems” are our blessings bringing us or the person we’re praying for, closer to God.