Tears on the Floor

Three women, arms around each other, huddled, their heads touching, worship music playing.  These women are taking their prayers to God, voices raised, hearts tender and focused on one thing—intercession.  Two of them have never met the third before.  But God put them together in this moment to humbly bring their pleas and praises to Him.

In just a few minutes, the praying is done.  The ladies open their eyes, hug each other, and the two walk back to their seats while continuing to praise Jesus.  The third looks down at the painted black floor and sees tears, small splashes dotting where the circle of women had been.  And in that moment, her mind is bombarded with overwhelming images of Jesus…

An image of a woman, so emotional over the presence of Jesus, that she was able to wash the feet of Jesus with her tears (Luke 7).

David crying out to God when the Philistines seized him in Gath in Psalm 56:8a, “You have taken account of my wanderings; put my tears in Your bottle.”

Jesus reminding His disciples, “Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies?  And not one of them is forgotten by God.  Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered.  Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.” (Luke 12:6-7)

I was the third woman, and I was a prayer intercessor at the Connecting Women’s Conference in Birmingham in February.  This was such a new experience for me.  I was nervous that I wouldn’t have the right things to say to the women who would come to me and ask for prayer.  I forgot that God does the work, not me!  I realized the intercessory prayer wasn’t just for the women seeking prayer.  It was for the intercessor, as well, and I was blessed to be a part of that God-orchestrated moment.

The tears that were cried out on the sanctuary floor were sacred reminders that God knew where we were and what we were so desperately asking for.  They represented family and friends, devotion to Jesus, and hope for healing.  They told stories of fear, redemption, loss, and love.  And every single tear was known to God.

~Erin