The Practice of Intercession

It is impossible to experience an abundant life of faith without a meaningful rhythm of prayer. While there are a number of prayer methods, intercession is one of its most foundational forms. In prayers of intercession, we bring our requests to God, but we are doing more than asking God for what we want. Intercession is an opportunity to ask and listen, to notice how God is responding to our desires, and to deepen our relationship with the Lord. You can find answers some most important questions like How did you learn to pray? Who taught you, and what did they teach you about prayer? When have you experienced a meaningful answer to prayer? What is something silly you have prayed for? When things go wrong, is your first inclination to pray? Do you really believe prayer makes any difference? In one of the last passages of the first letters to the early church, James passionately encourages the church to pray for ourselves and for each other -- especially in difficult circumstances. Intercessory prayer, or praying for others and their intentions, is so important. With so many people asking us for prayer intentions and knowing that the Lord wants us to pray for our brothers and sisters, we know that intercessory prayer is powerful and crucial. We cannot fulfill God’s work in our own strength – it is impossible. By standing in the gap and crying out to God in prayer we are asking Him to do what only He can do. we must examine our relationship with Him so that we might exercise this critical ministry. And those who take up the call to intercession come to learn in a deeper way that the sufferings of the present time cannot compare to the joy that will come as God’s purposes unfold. They learn to trust in the Lord, because they have experienced in prayer how infinitely compassionate God is. Intercessors participate in God's magnificent plan to raise humanity to share in divine life. This insight moves them to engage in a spiritual battle against the forces that seek to destroy God's plans. So ask the Holy Spirit to teach you how to pray in union with the mind of God.