Preparing to "Cry Out" for Your Mentee and Others

In the last blog we talked about the importance of being able to “cry out” to God and intercede on the behalf of other Christians. The person that you may be mentoring could be a Christian or a non-Christian. Both types of mentees need your daily prayers. But there will be also be times when you may need to “cry out” for your mentee. (Certainly mentors of non-Christians should be crying out to God for the mentee to desire to know Christ personally).

One of the reasons that it is so important for us to be willing to “cry out” and intercede for the needs of our Christian mentees and others is that we are all part of the body of Christ. Being part of the body of Christ means that we are to show brotherly love and care about the needs of each member of the body. Not only are we to show Christian love to each other, but it is in that love that we can intercede on the behalf of another Christian woman. 

As an individual who is part of the body of Christ, we are to not only do good deeds through services such as the service of ARCM, but we are to lift each other up when we have needs. We are to serve and lift each other up in brotherly Christian love. Christ is love! Christ is our example of sacrificial love. The greatest love is to give your life for another, which is exactly what Christ did when He, out of love, sacrificed His life on the cross for our sins. Christ was compassionate, loving, and merciful!

To be truly compassionate in our Christian mentoring, we need to look at our mentees through the loving eyes of Christ. It is only by truly looking at the other woman through the eyes of Christ that we can identify her needs and even see her hurt. Looking requires listening, asking questions, watching her body language and yes, looking into her eyes. If we should find that she is hurting in some manner or another, whether emotionally, physically or spiritually, we need to not just pray, but “cry out” and intercede on her behalf with zeal, devotion, and with an expectation to hear from God. Remember that “the effective fervent prayers of a righteous man can accomplish much.” – (James 5: 16. NASV).

Moreover, we are told in the Scriptures that we are to:

“Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.”

– (Galatians 6: 2. NASV).

We are also told to:

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”

– (Philippians 4: 6. NASV).

So, we can “cry out” and intercede on the behalf of another woman when we see her burden. Christians are to make requests for each other, and we are to especially reach out to God when one of us can’t make the request for our self. But, to make a request in intercessory prayer, our prayers must be spoken with our whole heart.

Most of the time, we pray with our whole heart, but there are times when we pray quickly and without really thinking deeply about our prayer. Intercessory prayer, or "crying out" to God needs to be done with your whole heart. To be able to pray from your whole heart you will need to be not only compassionate but forgiving and sincere in your intercession. 

First, before praying, you should ask God to forgive you of any sins that you have not already asked for God’s forgiveness. Moreover, if there is any unforgiveness in your heart toward the woman for whom you will be praying, please first forgive her.

For, we are to:

 “Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” – (Ephesians 4: 32. NASV).

Next, in prayer, thank the Lord for the things that He has done for you and for the person for whom you are interceding, which could also be your mentee. Now prayerfully ask for guidance from the Holy Spirit as to how you need to word your prayer. Sometimes it is important to take a few moments to listen for the Holy Spirit’s words of guidance and discernment. For, the Holy Spirit will give you the words to speak in your prayer if you will just take a moment to listen.

Then, with your whole heart determine to be sincere with every word that you speak to the Father. Our sincere words of prayer are the invisible connection between our need or another person’s need and the inexhaustible resources of God. Crying out in intercession for another person connects us with the One who has the resources and the will to help. Not only does God have the resources and will, but He has the Power to make things happen for His glory. So, whether it is a miracle, a change in the attitude of another (although that may seem to be a miracle at times), the positioning of an individual to receive blessings, or any of the other millions of ways that God can intervene and institute a change in the life of the individual, we are to recognize His love and intervention by praising and glorifying God.

Use God's Word in your prayer of intercession. When "Crying Out" to God speak His Word back to Him. You don't have to have Scripture verses memorized, as you can use the Bible to help you speak God's Holy Word. However, it is always wonderful to be able to speak God's Word from memory. Think about memorizing some Scriptures that are special to you and to Who God is.

Finally, praise God and glorify Him for Who He is. Thank Him for sending His Son, Jesus Christ, as our Savior. End your intercessory prayer of "Crying Out" by quoting God's Word such as the Scripture spoken by Christ found in John 14: 14 which says:

"If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it."

Then end your time spent in prayer (often it will be a prolonged period of time if you allow the Holy Spirit to guide you in your praying), with the acknowledgment that you are interceding on the behalf of someone by going through God's Son, and your Savior, Jesus Christ. A simple phrase such as: I ask these things in the precious name of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Christians are to “Cry out” through Christ,

our High Priest

We are to “cry out” and intercede for others through Christ, our intercessor, who is our High Priest in the order of Melchizedek.  In fact, Christ said, “Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.”  -- (John 14:13. NASV).

Just as Active Relational Christian Mentoring requires a commitment to be there and help a mentee, intercessory prayer or "crying out" to the Lord for another person requires a commitment to prayer and praying. This means that we have to selflessly give of our time. We cannot be selfish about our time or about our talents to help another person. In fact, the Scriptures tell us that we are to:

“Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have an attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus.”

– (Philippians 2: 3-5. NASV).

Obviously, in the interest of others we are to pray for them when they need God’s help. Moreover, any ministry for Christ must include faithfulness, love, and a sacrificial spirit. “Crying out” to the Lord for the needs of another and interceding on the behalf of another woman means that we must have a servant’s heart. We must not only be devoted to “Loving our neighbor as our self”, but we must also be devoted to the Lord. Can you commit to serving the Kingdom of God and commit to be there for another Christian woman when she needs help? Can you reach out in Christian love and help another woman? Certainly, Christ wants us to be there for each other. Moreover, as our High Priest and Intercessor, Christ is ready and willing to take your intercessory cries before His Father.

“For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

– (Hebrews 4: 15-16. NASV).

None of us are worthy of God’s love, grace, mercy and Salvation, however, God not only offers us all these things through His Son, Jesus Christ, but God is also willing to help us when we “Cry out” to Him. He gives us blessings beyond our wildest imaginings through Jesus Christ, our Savior. Moreover, God wants us to come before His throne without fear and timidity. We are not to be anxious for anything. For, God wants to help His children, and He has the power to fix or confront any problem or challenge that we may face in this world. Therefore, God wants you to come before Him with not only your needs, but with the needs of others. He wants you to draw near to Him in prayer. Moreover, God wants to see your love for others expressed through your willingness to come before Him on their behalf. We are to “Cry Out” and intercede for our neighbor (and our mentee) with love; going through the One who will take the situation before His Father. Christ, our High Priest, will intercede on our behalf. We just have to be willing to pray!  You can do it!  You can mentor another woman, and you can pray and intercede for her and others, as well.