I started meditating on 1 Timothy 2:1. It says, “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men.” Paul used the same three ways in Philippians 4:6. I wanted a working definition for the difference between the three ways. 

I looked it up in all my resources. Nothing satisfied me until I found what I wanted in Matthew Henry’s commentary. His definition resonated with my spirit. It means to come humbly before the Lord, petitioning Him to avert evil; prayers for the obtaining of good; intercession for others.

For years Ezekiel 22:30 has been my understanding for intercession. It says, “So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one.”

1 Timothy 2:2-3 says that we are to pray for all in authority. Why? That we may live in quiet and peace, and to have the freedom to proclaim the gospel and advance His Kingdom.

Romans 8 recorded the Holy Spirit praying for us, as well as Jesus. Verse 26 says, “Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”

Have you ever condemned, or made derogatory remarks against yourself? Verse 34 says, “Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.”

Ezekiel 22:30 gives us a perfect understanding of what intercession is. It says, “So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one.”

Jesus heard what the Father was speaking, and He spoke it. We need to hear what the Lord is saying about our nation. Let’s make a wall and stand in the gap, because many are perishing. Oh Lord, move on hearts for revival!

I read Luke 22. I always marvel at the interchange between Jesus and Peter. Verse 31-32 says, “…Simon, Simon! Indeed, satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.”

In verse 34 the Lord warned Peter that he would deny Him three times. Jesus was arrested. Verse 54 says that Peter followed at a distance. In verses 57, 58, and 60 his denials were recorded. Verse 61 says, “And the Lord turned and looked at Peter…” Oh what a moment of understanding!

Verses 61-62 says, “…Then Peter remembered…So Peter went out and wept bitterly.” It seems that Peter did not take Jesus’ words about the sifting seriously. Within the same day he fell into the enemy’s sieve.

Amos 9:9 was written about Israel. Yet there is a promise that we can apply. It says, “…I will sift the house of Israel among all nations, as grain is sifted in a sieve; yet not the smallest grain shall fall to the ground.”

I have always been fascinated by the account in Acts 16:6-10. Paul, Silas, and Timothy were on their way to preach the gospel in Asia. Verse 6 says, “…they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit…” Next they tried to go into Bithynia. Verse 7 says, “…but the Holy Spirit did not permit them.”

They were blocked by the Holy Spirit from doing what God has called them to do ~ preach the gospel. Yet, the Lord had a specific place He wanted them to go. He revealed it in a vision to Paul.

Verse 10 says, “Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them. That was the place where Paul and Silas were beaten and put into prison.

The Lord set them up for the salvation of the Philippian jailer and his household. Everything was sovereignly orchestrated by the Lord. As we are attentive and obedient to the Holy Spirit, He will lead us into the good works preordained for us to walk in. Ephesians 2:10.

Jesus set a pattern for us to follow. John 5:19 says, “…Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner.”

Jesus was walking toward Jericho with a multitude. He was attentive and alert for the voice of the blind man. The moment He heard it, He stood still. His Father had already set it up. John 15:5 reminds us that apart from Him we can do nothing.

Galatians 5:16 says to walk in the Spirit. That means we are to be attentive and alert to whatever He tells us. Sometimes it is ahead of time, but other times it is in the moment.

Here is another verse that speaks of the Lord. Isaiah 50:4 says, “The Lord God has given Me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him who is weary. He awakens Me morning by morning, He awakens My ear to hear as the learned.”

I was reading Luke 18. Verses 35-43 were written about the blind man who received his sight. He was sitting by the roadside begging. He heard a commotion and asked what was happening.

When they told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by, he cried out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” They told him to be quiet. Yet he cried out all the more. Verse 40 says, “So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be brought to Him…”

Verse 41 says, “…What do you want Me to do for you?” Jesus’ question reminded me of when God asked Solomon what he wanted Him to give him. Verse 41 says, “…Lord, that I may receive my sight.” Immediately he received his sight. Do you cry out to the Lord in desperation?

Psalm 34:6 says, “This poor man cried out, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.” I love Jeremiah 33:3. It says, “Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.”

Opinions are biased beliefs that may not be founded in absolute truth. They can be mindsets that keep us bound through inner personal laws. Wisdom, on the other hand, is from above. We are not born with it. It is imparted to us as we ask the One who is All Wise.

The Lord appeared to King Solomon in a dream by night. In 1 Kings 3:5 He said, “Ask! What shall I give you?” Solomon asked for an understanding heart, so he could discern between good and evil. 

Verse 12 says, “Behold, I have done according to your words; see, I have given you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has not been anyone like you before you, nor shall any like you arise after you.” What a gift!

Why would we rely on another’s opinion, or our own, when we can receive His gift of wisdom by asking. What one thing would you ask for if the Lord asked ‘What shall I give you?’ I would ask for intimate communion with Him that nothing on this earth could rival.

The last phrase in Romans 12:16 says, “…Do not be wise in your own opinion.” That takes me back to Proverbs 3:7. It is a verse I declare to the Lord like this every day. “I delight to not be wise in my own eyes, but to fear You, and depart from doing anything in my own strength.”

The verse says, “Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and depart from evil.” Look at the promise in verse 8. It says, “It will be health to your flesh, and strength to your bones.”

As I think about the word opinion, I can hear my dad say, “Convince a woman against her will, she will be of the same opinion still.” 

We know from Colossians 3:3 that all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Him. In James 1:5 He bids us to ask Him for wisdom, and He will give it to us freely. Opinions come from our own perspective of things. His wisdom allows us to see our life’s circumstances through His perspective ~ eternal wisdom.

Proverbs 11:3 says, “The integrity of the upright will guide them, but the perversity of the unfaithful will destroy them.” Proverbs 22:24-25 says, “Make no friendship with an angry man, and with a furious man do not go, lest you learn his ways and set a snare for your soul.”

Proverbs 9:9 says, “Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.” Proverbs 1:5 in the Amplified says, “The wise also will hear and increase in learning, and the person of understanding will acquire skill and attain to sound counsel (so that he may be able to steer his course rightly)”

Proverbs 13:20 says, “He who walks with wise men will be wise.” Let’s seek the companionship of those who walk in His wisdom. James 3:18. It says, “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruit, without partiality and without hypocrisy.” The qualities of His wisdom are never found in one who walks in pride.

The last phrase in Romans 12:16 says, “…associate with the humble.” James 3:13 in the Amplified says, “Who is there among you who is wise and intelligent? Then let him by his noble living show forth his (good) works with the (unobtrusive) humility (which is the proper attribute) of true wisdom.”

Verse 18 says, “And the harvest of righteousness (of conformity to God’s will in thought and deed) is (the fruit of the seed) sown in peace by those who work for and make peace (in themselves and in others, that peace which means concord, agreement, and harmony between individuals…”

In high school I heard a definition of fellowship: two men in a boat rowing together toward the same shore. Hang out with others ~ same goal to honor the Lord in every aspect.

1 Corinthians 15:33 says, “Do not be deceived: Evil company corrupts good habits.” 1 John 1:7 says, “But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.”