…Woke up this morning with this wonderful reminder: When we face trying circumstances and situations that leave us feeling overwhelmed and helpless, God is ALWAYS interceding on our behalf in EVERY battle and trial we face. As a child, I can remember hearing a song in church called “And He Is Ever Interceding”. Although I don’t remember that song very well, its message must have still poured into my spirit as a young child. Side note to us worship leaders here: What messages are pouring into the lives of those we serve through the songs we sing? Songs and their messages have lasting power …. or at least, they should.

To intercede means to settle something between two parties, or to intervene. Perhaps even to mobilize in an effort to defend someone from some peril they cannot see objectively. Those who intercede care enough to take action on behalf of another. This is precisely what God does for us SO MANY times without our knowledge.

Think about two of the best football teams fighting for a victory (maybe even a Super Bowl victory) out on the field. Sometimes during the fight for victory, players cannot objectively view what’s really going on, or what strategies the other team might be using. It takes coaches that are standing on the sidelines objectively viewing the whole scope of what’s really happening on the field. They have these headsets on as they dialog with other coaches. And they have clipboards with diagrams of plays to guide their players to make the best decisions possible under pressure. Simply put, they have ways of interceding to point their team toward victory.

When players are in the fight for the victory, it gets exhausting. The amount of physical exertion being spent begins to take its toll on them, and can even begin to weigh them down emotionally as well as physically. They may begin to feel depleted as the clock is ticking away. But the coaches are there to intercede; to keep the players motivated; to keep them in the fight, telling them that victory CAN come if they just keep going, and keep giving it their best. Throwing in the towel is NEVER an option for winning teams!

This is what God does for us. He is ALWAYS interceding for us in our circumstances. He sees when we are emotionally, spiritually, and/or physically spent in the fight. We can’t always see objectively the scope of everything that is going on in our lives. Many times, we can’t even see the strategies the Enemy is using to wear us down. You know, those things that chip away at our faith …. the things that deter our determination.

God has the FULL view. He see everything. He knows everything. His call is the best play you will ever make. His scope and perspective cannot be humanly matched. The Bible tells us He is always working on our behalf. He is working to defend, to settle, and to lead us to victory!

Finally, this closing part comes from my husband: He told me about a term in the game of football called, the 12th man (or the 12th player) of the game. It is a term that refers to the fans in the stadium who also give encouragement to the players on the field (only 11 players are allowed on the field per team). The 12th man (the fans) also play a helpful role in the team’s victory because many times they can give their team an extra measure of confidence when they cheer them on. When the players are physically, mentally, and especially, spiritually exhausted (they begin to lose hope and it affects the way they play), the fans have at times become key to many victories. WE are the 12th man ….. we must remember to encourage one another to keep pressing on.

No matter what you are going through in your fight/battle for victory today, remember this: God is ALWAYS interceding for you! Be encouraged by this truth today!

Love & Blessings!

“Therefore He is able to save completely those who come to God through Him, because He always lives to intercede for them.” (Hebrews 7:25) NIV

For further Personal Study see also:
Romans 8:26-27 NIV
Romans 8:31-35, 37 NIV
Psalms 44:5-8 NLT