Song Series…”Somebody’s Praying”

The last two songs I have written about have been old hymns, but the title today is one I heard not long after I had been paralyzed. It was sung by Ricky Skaggs and it has never left my heart.

I mentioned a couple weeks ago on Facebook, that I had a rough couple weeks. It just felt like such a spiritual battle was raging right over my head and I certainly felt the weight of it. I prayed specifically that morning and told the Lord that I felt so very discouraged from the weight I was feeling. I asked Him specifically to do something to strengthen and encourage my heart and I was feeling very weak under the load. That day, I had 5 different, precious friends from all over the US reach out to me and let me know that I was on their hearts and that they were praying for me. They didn’t know…but I did…that their obedience to the Lord to pray for me was a direct answer from my sweet Lord to encourage and strengthen my heart.

I have felt a bit like Moses, in the battle, whose arms were weary, and Aaron and Hur came up on the mountain and just stood their and held his arms. When his arms were raised, there was victory in the battle. When his arms were down, they started losing the battle. He was tired. He could no longer keep his arms raised all alone, and those brothers just came and stood with him and held and strengthened his arms. The Israelites had victory that day because of the supporting role of Aaron and Hur in the battle.

Because of the prayers of my friends the day I talked so specifically to the Lord, and their obedience to Him as He prompted them to pray for me, I also woke the next morning with that load completely gone. I truly felt that spiritual battle that was raging over me had been won…by Jesus Christ!! The circumstances were still the same, but the storm had passed. Prayer. It is power.

My level of injury is a unique one as a C5-C7 incomplete. I look and function like a T- injury and so I am very deceiving. I have initial strength, but because the signals are weak and damaged to my arms and hands, my strength taps out very quickly. That 10 lb. bag that needs lifted? I can probably lift it once if it isn’t too high, but that is about all you will get from me. The longer I have had this injury (11 years now), and as I am aging with a SCI, the weaker these arms are becoming. So, in a very physical and demonstrative way, I totally understand and empathize with Moses and his weak arms in the battle. The depths of appreciation I have for my children and friends who help me on a daily basis because of my disability makes me love Aaron and Hur so very much in that story.

I also understand the depths of those spiritual weary arms too..when you have carried a very heavy load for a long time, and those muscles are quaking, and shaking, and straining, and screaming in agony for relief. Then help arrives. Somebody is stopping their life to pray for you. Do you know the power that is behind that simple act?

Someone is stopping to say that they care enough for you to pause their day…and pray. They take your name straight to the throne of God and intercede on your behalf! This is NOT a simple, nor placating, thing to say or do. If God tells you to pray, then pray!! If God puts someone on your heart, pray! If you tell someone you will pray for them, stop and do it right then! Oh, the magnitude of praying for another. Maybe we won’t even know the full effect of that act until we reach eternity and know all things. I just know that in my limited earthly knowledge, it is powerful.

I must take this back to the song, though, and why it in particular speaks volumes to my heart. The particular video of this song builds you into gratitude that someone…someone…is praying for you. Your heart swells in gratitude for all these people that love you and pray for you, but right at the end, Ricky Skaggs drops a bombshell. He quotes a Bible verse. That “someone” who is also praying for you? It is Jesus.

Jesus. Jesus prays for us. Jesus intercedes for us. Jesus stops what He is doing and takes my name to the throne of God. Jesus loves me and cares for me enough to mention my name and my needs and my searching heart…even in the times I don’t even know what to say or how to pray…to my Heavenly Father.

Somebody’s praying…and that Somebody is Jesus. Friends, as we pray for each other, it is because we are following the example of what Jesus is already daily doing for each of us.

“Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.” Hebrews 7:25“Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.” Romans 8:34

Hallelujah!

This is the exact video I watched so many years ago that has continued to be a blessing and encouragement to my heart over and over and over.

Music speaks to my soul. David encouraged himself in the Lord and I have no doubt, that as a musician, music was one of the chief weapons against discouragement. This series will highlight songs that have comforted my soul.

Song 1: There is a Balm in Gilead

Song 2: The Love of God