Sometimes God places people in our lives whose presence weaves in & out through the passing years. They are Godly people with whom we enjoy different seasons of fellowship. Even though our lives may move in different directions, the spiritual bond that God used to bind us together never changes. This is the story of a friend of mine.

This woman is a devoted intercessor. Intercessors pay a high price for the call upon their life. Standing between someone and Satan draws fire and retaliation from the enemy. Over a year ago, this woman called me out of the blue. She began to pour out her heart to me and tell me a story, which in most respects would provide the perfect scenario of a script for a Hollywood horror movie. Thus over the past months I have counseled her spiritually as well as providing a shoulder for a friend to cry on.

She has walked a very hard path, one that many could not endure. She has been through the depths of despair. She has lost everything, her husband, her children, her home, and her business. Even though she has been through periods of weakness and depression, she did not give up hope. When she would call me, we would begin to speak the Word of God together over her situation. She knew the Word for she had studied to show herself approved. In the past, she was a Women’s Intercessory Ministry Leader and used her home for Intercessory Women’s Retreats.

Many times our love for the Lord can result in zeal before wisdom resulting in a lack of discernment. There are times that God desires for us to assist His children in common sense ways. They need a natural word. My friend called the other day and as we began to talk, I realized that she needed natural advice, ideas, and confirmation that what she was doing in the natural part of her life was the right thing to do. She needed a natural plan. We live in two worlds at once–the natural and the spiritual just like our Lord when He walked among us. We as Christians must be sensitive to the needs of others in the natural as well as the spiritual.

Before our conversation ended, she related that she felt more at peace as she realized that there was a way in the natural to start over and she could do it. Christians often overlook natural counsel, encouragement, and edification for loftier spiritual heights. Jesus fed the five thousand natural food before He fed them spiritual food. (Matt.14:13-21) Our love for the Lord will result in our service to Him, however as we seek to find ways to serve Him more, let us desire the anointing of the Sons of Issachar; (1 Chronicles 12:32) to be able to discern the times in our lives and the lives of those  God sends our way.