“And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication…” – Zechariah 12:10

I used to think that the same Luganda word was used for both ‘supplication’ and ‘intercession.’

However, I was wrong; our Luganda Bible translators used different words.

A ‘supplication’ is generally a petition by a person in distress to God to be merciful to him/her.

Some Bible texts translate the word as “asking God for help.”

So, whereas the phrase “prayer and supplication” is common in the Bible, ‘supplication’ in a general sense, has the prime meaning of approaching God in a humble, needy manner and beseeching Him for favor.

The Hebrew word used for ‘supplication’ may also be translated as ‘entreaty.’

I strongly believe that supplication is the forgotten secret of a prayer life that brings results.

Indeed, I could also add that supplication is one of the most neglected ‘weapons’ of our ‘spiritual warfare’ if I may call it that.

Did you know that supplication is one of the items in the believer’s spiritual armory/arsenal according to Ephesians 6?

It says; “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit.” (verse 18)

In our meditation today, we reflect on Zechariah’s prophecy in regard to the outpouring of the “Spirit of grace and supplication.”

This basically refers to the gracious working of the Holy Spirit that leads to conviction and an earnest prayer for God’s mercy.

What we note from this is that supplication is not a man-made thing; it’s the work of the Holy Spirit in the heart of man.

“Blessed bethe LORD, Because He has heard the voice of my supplications!”

PSALM 28:6

Never laugh at a person who pours his heart before the Lord in earnest supplication!

Even our Lord Jesus had the Spirit of supplication (Hebrews 5:7). You remember how He prayed in Gethsemane and his sweat was like drops of blood?

In James 5:16 (RV), the Bible says; “the supplication of a righteous man availeth much in its working.”

I liked Solomon’s lengthy prayer at the dedication of the temple.

He prayed; “Whatever plague or whatever sickness there is; whatever prayer, whatever supplication is made by anyone, or by all Your people Israel, when each one knows his own burden and his own grief, and spreads out his hands to this temple: then hear from heaven Your dwelling place, and forgive, and give to everyone according to all his ways, whose heart You know (for You alone know the hearts of the sons of men) [see 2 Chronicles 6:28-30, emphasis added].

“Blessed be the LORD, Because He has heard the voice of my supplications!” (Psalm 28:6)

Whatever the distress, “burden” or “grief,” the remedy is supplication!

Today, the Holy Spirit is admonishing us to add supplication to our prayer life.

Prayer:

Almighty God, thank you for the Holy Spirit that was poured upon me. Whatever situation comes my way, may I abound in prayers and supplication that I may be an overcomer. In Jesus’ Name, Amen!