The Power of Intercession

Friday, April 26

The Power of Intercession

I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. 1 Timothy 2:1

1 Timothy 2:1 says, “I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them”…this passage goes on to says that this “pleases God”.  Intercessory prayer is praying on behalf of someone else to God the Father, through Jesus Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit.  It pleases God when we consider others as we do ourselves. This begs the question; do you include others in your prayers? Are you an intercessor? How many of your prayers involve making requests on behalf of someone else?

Intercessory prayer is a powerful expression of love and compassion as we stand in the gap for those who are hurting or in need. Through intercession, we partner with God in His redemptive work, inviting His healing, provision, and guidance into the lives of those we lift up in prayer.

When we intercede, it helps us to focus on someone other than ourselves. Praying for others forces us to take our minds off of ourselves. Jesus was selfless, always preferring others above Himself, always praying for another person’s needs. As we see how God intervenes in the lives of those we have prayed for, it gives us the chance to thank and praise Him for all His goodness. It is so exciting to see the ways in which God answers the prayers we have prayed for others.

Today, I invite you to embrace the privilege of interceding for others, recognizing the transformative impact it can have on both their lives and our own.

Prayer for today: Gracious God, thank You for inviting us to participate in Your work through intercessory prayer. Help us to respond with compassion, see others in need and standing in the gap. Help us to be diligent and fervent in lifting up the needs of others before You. May Your healing and provision be evident in the lives of those we pray for, as Your will is accomplished through our prayers. In Jesus’ name, Amen.