Precious Stones of Intercession

Jesus lives to intercede for us, He pleads for us with both constancy and fervency . . . do we do the same for our churches, our family and friends, and for the life-altering situations around us?
What is intercession?
I define it as "going before and alongside the person or situation, joining Jesus in the preparation process of their heart(s) through prayer."
Does our lack of faith and our prayers that lack zeal limit what Father longs to do?
In Matthew 13:58, "And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith."
Are we willing to stand in the gap for our churches, our family and friends, and for the life-altering situations around us?
Ezekiel 22:30, “I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found none."
Life has few more poignantly significant moments than those found in the face of death.
With the death of a family member or a dear friend, you stand changed by their passing. Again and again, Jesus showed His power over death through raising Jairus' daughter, Lazarus, and then Himself back to life.
In the case of Jairus' daughter, the onlookers laughed. With Lazarus, Martha reasoned with Jesus that the stench of death and decay would be too strong after four days of being in the grave. And then as Jesus lay in the grave, his own disciples despaired of ever seeing Him again.
There are many amazing accounts of near death experiences. We hear them and are momentarily awed and inspired by the miracle of life in the face of death.
Yet, how many of us live our days with the firm belief that He is:
"...the God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were?" (Romans 4:17)
Boundless and countless are the circumstances and situations in our lives in which Father waits on "the edge of His seat" for us to pray with unwavering and longsuffering faith and to not be afraid; just believe (Mark 5:36).
Longsuffering can be defined as long and patient endurance of injury, trouble, or provocation.
The King James translation uses the word "travail" in speaking of a woman in childbirth. Travail means pain, anguish or suffering as a result of mental or physical hardship".
We think nothing of a woman "travailing" in childbirth; and yet how often are we willing to travail in prayer -- to persevere, to endure, to continue calling out to our God who hears, and to embrace the belief that He is the God who gives life to the dead?
James 5:16 (KJV), "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."
To be effectual, one is producing or capable of producing an intended effect to be adequate. To be fervent, a person has or shows great warmth or intensity of spirit, feeling, or enthusiasm.
Can any of these words be used to describe our prayers:
• Effectual
• Fervent
• Faith-filled
• Longsuffering
• Travailing
• Unwavering
Travailing prayer equals prevailing prayer.
The best way I know to follow Father’s directive to pray on all occasions (Eph. 6:18) and to pray without ceasing (1 Thess. 5:17) is by participating in spontaneous prayer -- in the moment, according to what’s on your mind and what Father has placed in your heart. Spontaneous prayer can be out loud or in your heart. It includes both spontaneously praying and listening.