Q3. Intercessory Prayer

[Krissi]

Intercessory prayer has two components: 1) when we ask for prayer for ourselves, and 2) when we pray for others. Praying for others can occur without them knowing we're praying for them, or after they request prayer.

Regarding asking for prayer for ourselves:

I do not think we should ask for intercessory prayer for ourselves because it makes us feel good to be emotionally supported by a gaggle of friends. Instead, we should ask for intercessory prayer because we believe God hears these prayers and will answer them. I’m unsure if there’s "strength in numbers", as Pastor Ralph implied, but there may be. I am certain that select people seem to have a more direct line to God and that their prayers are answered when I'm in a crisis or need to hear God's voice more clearly.

I do think, however, that when we’re in the midst of a debilitating crisis and unable to believe God will deliver us, that the prayers of others can hold us up until we’re strong enough to believe our own one-on-one prayer with God will be efficacious.

I must admit I’m a bit confused by the need for intercessory prayer … for ourselves. We can pray alone to God without others. God answers these prayers. He is in our hearts … within us the Spirit resides. That spirit groans and prays for us constantly and, too, our own words release the Spirit’s power within us. Thus, I’m letting it remain a mystery as to why we reach out to others in our time of great suffering or need. Perhaps it’s no more than the normal human desire to be held and loved by others; perhaps it’s a spiritual necessity to ask for the prayer of others in times of great suffering.

Regarding praying for others:

Most of my prayers for others are done without them knowing about it. I pray for the salvation of people in my family and have been for many years. My oldest son finally accepted the Lord though he is struggling, now, in his faith. I pray for leaders and people in tough political situations and have felt led to pray for strangers I have seen on Internet news sites -- one man, in particular, who was in tears over the deaths of his friends in the Ukraine, comes to mind. I have prayed for him and his family on and off for many months now. 

Intercessory prayer has to do with people more than situations. Or, perhaps, we interceded for the people in particular situations or circumstances. 

Too, we intercede in prayer for others who ask for our prayers. I freely pray for them. One of the things I do, now, is pray in text messages. Rather than just say, “I’ll be praying for you,” I actually pray, right then and there, for them. I want them to see the prayer and be comforted by those words, believing that God will answer the prayer in His time.