Be the Persevering Intercessor for Your Special Needs Child
With Christ in the School of Prayer, Thoughts on Our Training for the Ministry of Intercession by Andrew Murrey has been my faithful teacher of late. I’ve felt my prayers weren’t as “powerful and effective” as God promises. I read this book years ago. I wanted my prayers for others to align with God’s will, to be the conduit for God’s promises.
So pulled out my Rev. Andrew Murrey book again. I began to study again with increased determination to powerfully and effectively in the pages of a sage. A couple of things relevant to praying over a special needs child and for myself living with physical disabilities and parenting children with special needs I had not retained before. Rev. Murrey’s teaching of Jesus’ words bolstered the confidence I lacked in “asking whater you want”. (You gotta read and study this book. I don’t recieve anything from the sale of this book.)
- Rev Murrey writes that “A deeper insight into the meaning of Gethsemane would teach us that we have here the firm basis and open door of assurance of an answer to our prayer…It was by Christ’s submission to not have his will done, that he secured for his people the right to say to them, Ask whatever you want.” (Chapter 28, page 116).
Let that soak in. - Rev Murrey also writes that “Just as the farmer has to take his ten thousand steps and sow his ten thousand seeds, each one a part of the preparation for the final harvest, so there is a need for often repeated persevering prayer, all working out some desired blessing.”
His insightful words deepened my reverence and confidence about the right to come before the throne of grace on behalf of another asking whatever I want. His words cultivated a patient determination to step and sow.
These categories of promises recorded in scripture reflect the common struggles of parents and the obsticles before our special needs kids.
There are 12 categories with 4 verses listed-enough for one verse per week for an entire year.
Most of these I have underlined in my Bible and taged with a ragged stick note.
As I went through my Bible looking for the underlined and highlighted verses and the sticky notes used for tabs to selected verses, I realized the verses apply to both me as a parent (of adult children with special needs) and my children.
Anger
- Proverbs 19:11 Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.
- Proverbs 29:11 A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back.
- Proverbs 15:1 A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
- Ephesians 4:26 Be angry and do not sin, do not let the sun go down on your anger…
Attitude
- Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
- Psalm 118:24 This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
- II Corinthians 12:9 But he said to me, “My power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me.
- Romans 8:37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
Confidence
- I John 5:14-15 And this is the confidence we have toward him, that if we ask anything in his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.
- Philippians 1:6 …being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Jesus Christ.
- Hebrews 13:6 So we may boldly say: “The Lord is my helper. I will not fear..”
- Isaiah 40:3 But those who wait on the Lord, Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up on wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.
Discouragement
- Galatians 6:9 b. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.
- Philippians 4:6 Be anxious for nothing, but everything in prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be known to God.
- II Corinthians 4:8-9 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed but not driven to despair, persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed…
- John 14:1 This God-his way is perfect; the word of the Lord proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.
Doubting God
- Psalm 18:30 This God-his way is perfect; the word of the Lord proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.
- Psalm 55:22 Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you, hee will never permit the righteous to be moved.
- Isaiah 41:10 …fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for i am your God. I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
- Romans 8:31 What then shall we say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
Fear
Psalm 56:3 When I am afraid, I will trust in the Lord.
II Timothy 1:7 …for God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and sound mind.
Psalm 31:24 Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait on the Lord.
John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
Loneliness
- Psalm 25:16 Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted.
- Hebrews 10:24-25 And let us consider how to stir each other up to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
- Proverbs 18:24 A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
- Proverbs 22:11 He who loves purity of heart, and whose speech is gracious, will have the king as his friend.
Spiritual Growth
- John 15:5 I am the vine and you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he bears much fruit, apart from me you can do nothing.
- Proverbs 24:16 …for the righteous falls seven times and rises again, but the wicked stumble in times of calamity.
- Colossians 2:6-7 Therefore, as you recieved Christ jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.
- Ephesains 2:8-10 You are saved by grace through faith; it’s God gift-not through works, so that no one can boast. We are his workmanship, created in Jesus Christ for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.
Salvation
- Matthew 18:3 And said, Truely I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of God.
- II Timothy 1:9 …who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ jesus before the ages began.
- John 6:44 No man comes to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day.
- II Timothy 2:25 …in hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth…
Strength
- Ephesains 3:16 …that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with the power through his Spirit in your inner being.
- Isaiah 40:29 He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increased strength.
- Jeremiah 31:25 For I will satisfy the weary soul, and every languishing soul I will replenish.
- Galations 6:9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.
Weakness
- II Corianthians 12:9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is pefected in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
- II Corinthians 12:10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ.
- II Corinthians 12:10 For when I am weak, I am strong.
- Psalm 103:13-14 As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him. For he knows our frame; he remembers we are dust.
Waiting on God
- Hebrews 10:23 Let us holf fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.
- Psalm 5:3 In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.
- Psalm 38:15 I will wait for you, You will answer, Lord my God.
- Psalm 130:5-6 I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope, my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning.
You’re not alone in this journey—commit to praying one promise this week and share in the comments how I can pray for you too.
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