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The theme for reflection is intercession – fasting for others. Intercession is the action of praying on behalf of others. Fasting is a religious obligation or an act of voluntarily reducing or eliminating the intake of food and any form of pleasure or entertainment for a specific time. “Intercession – fasting for others” means to pray and seek the face of God and to abstain from food and pleasure on behalf of other people, especially, in turbulent or challenging times. We shall reflect on the following facts.
1. In challenging times there is a need for intercession and fasting for others.
2. It takes compassion to intercede and fast for others.

Firstly, in challenging times there is a need for intercessors who will stand in the gap to fast and pray for the others. Nehemiah interceded and fasted for the nation Israel while he was serving in exile as the cupbearer to King Artaxerxes of Persia. “I asked them concerning the Jews who escaped, who had survived the exile, and concerning Jerusalem. ³ And they said to me, “The remnant there in the province who had survived the exile is in great trouble and shame. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are destroyed by fire.” ⁴ As soon as I heard these words I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven. (Nehemiah 1:2-4). Beloved in the Lord there is a need for intercession and prayer for others by those who have a closer relationship with God. Everyone can not be an intercessor, It is for this reason we are reminded in James 5:16 that “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” A righteous person is a person who has been saved by grace through faith and has a covenant relationship with God. A person who believes in God and has a covenant relationship with Him can intercede and fast on behalf of others. “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. ¹⁵ And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.” (1 John 5:14-15). Do you believe that when you pray God listens because of your relationship with Him? Apart from yourself, do you pray for others?

Secondly, Intercessors are moved by compassion for the well-being of others and the restoration of God’s will in the lives of others. “I had not been sad in his presence before, ² so the king asked me, “Why does your face look so sad when you are not ill? This can be nothing but sadness of heart.” I was very much afraid, ³ but I said to the king, “May the king live forever! Why should my face not look sad when the city where my ancestors are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire? ” ⁴ The king said to me, “What is it you want?” Then I prayed to the God of heaven, ⁵ and I answered the king, “If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favor in his sight, let him send me to the city in Judah where my ancestors are buried so that I can rebuild it.” (Nehemiah 2:1-5) Why should Nehemiah be concerned about the people back home when he is comfortable in the King’s palace? Like Jesus, Nehemiah was a man who had love and compassion for others and his broken nation, therefore, he took time to pray for the restoration of his nation from Nehemiah 1:5-10. We shall recall that Jesus our chief intercessor, “when he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. ³⁷ Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few; ³⁸ therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest.” (Matthew 9:36-38). It is impossible to be an intercessor who prays and fasts for others when you do not have unconditional love and compassion for others. Paul also admonishes us“So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, ² complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. ³ Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. ⁴ Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. ⁵ Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, (Philippians 2:1-5). If you are filled with hatred and bitterness how can you intercede and fast for others and what kind of prayer would you pray on their behalf? Many of us are unable to intercede and fast for others because we have personal issues with them? We are called upon to eschew hatred and bitterness and be filled with love and compassion if we desire to be intercessors.

In summary, we have reflected on the theme, ” intercession- fasting for others” We have learnt that in challenging times there is a need to intercede and fast for others, and It takes compassion to intercede and fast for others. Shalom.

PRAYER
1. Let us pray for an increment in our faith and the deepening of our covenant relationship with the Lord so that we shall qualify as righteous persons who can intercede and fast on behalf of others.
2. Let us pray to be filled with love and compassion for others and be moved to intercede and fast for them even as God takes care of our needs.
3. Let us pray for our country and our leaders. Let us pray for repentance, regeneration and the will of God to be done in our lives.

Almighty God, strengthen us to always intercede by always standing in the gap to pray and fast for the redemption and restoration of our broken world. Amen.