I can remember my mother chiding me for being too critical of people when I was young. It is a fault in me that I still wrestle with and is a source of frequent repentance. I spoke of forgiveness a few days ago and it could be described as a boomerang—what you send out is what you get back.  Jesus describes judgement in the same way in Matthew 7:1-2. “Judge not lest you be judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.”  He goes on to describe our hypocrisy for seeing the faults in others while being blind to our own. 

Intercession has always been my calling and gift. But there was a time when God, ever so gently told me that He loved that I pray, but to please stop praying!  It was because I was praying about the condition of the people I loved instead of praying for their covenants. At the time, I didn’t understand that intercession is like going into heaven’s court room. God is the judge, Jesus is the advocate (defense attorney), and Satan is the prosecutor.  The person we are praying for is like the defendant, and we are witnesses who give testimony about their actions and character.  When I prayed, I lamented their faults and gave the Devil more authority over them.  Because of the judgement and unforgiveness in my heart, I couldn’t see and testify to the good that God had created in them.

Seeing a person by their covenant instead of their condition is like putting on rose colored glasses, being like Scarlett instead of like Melanie in “Gone with the Wind.” The first step in being able to see covenant in others is to get rid of the planks in our own eyes. (Matt 7:3-5) The most flagrant flaws we see in others (especially in our family members) is usually our own sin!  After all, where did they inherit or learn that from? In most cases, the covenant is the opposite of their condition. If God made him to be fearless, his condition will be fear (of lack, failure, rejection, etc).  If she is loud and mean, God created her with a gentle, quiet spirit.

Part of Daily Bread is asking God to shine the light of His Presence on me to reveal my hidden sins. Then I ask Him to show me the wounds that the person I am praying for has sustained. I Forgive everyone who wounded them, starting with myself.  Then I forgive the person for any sins God shows me.  I apply the blood of Jesus to all.  Then I ask God to show me how wonderfully He made them.

Remember the boomerangs. We should never go into the courtroom with judgement and unforgiveness in our hearts.  Our job is to testify on behalf of the defendant for Jesus, not for the Devil.  And God, the Judge, sees our hearts.