Have you ever felt like God was laying someone on your heart or your mind? Have you ever prayed for someone because the Holy Spirit prompted you? You may have heard the term, “intercessory prayer.” Intercessory prayer is praying on behalf of others. To intercede, by definition, is to intervene. And to intervene, by definition, is to come between or step in the middle of (something or someone and another person).

Oswald Chambers said, “True intercession involves bringing the person, or the circumstance that seems to be crashing in on you, before God, until you are changed by His attitude toward that person or circumstance.”

Why should we intercede for others in prayer? Because God tells us to in His Word, because the Holy Spirit even set the example for us, and because Jesus Himself intercedes for us.

1 Timothy 2:1, “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people,”

James 5:16, “pray for one another.”

One of the biggest reasons we should intercede in prayer for one another is because we are commanded to bear one another’s burdens. We will all reach a point where we need someone else’s support. This is one of the purposes of the church. We are there when our brother or sister in Christ is in need. We help carry the weight of their troubles; and we can do this – in part – by taking them to the “throne of grace” (Heb. 4:16).

2 Corinthians 1:11, “you also join in helping us through your prayers, so that thanks may be given by many persons in our behalf for the favor granted to us through the prayers of many.”

When it comes to interceding in prayer for others, the Holy Spirit gives us an example to follow. He intercedes in prayer for us.

Romans 8:26-27, “Now in the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.”

And not only does the Holy Spirit intercede for us, but Jesus Himself intercedes for us.

Hebrews 7:25, “Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.”

Romans 8:34, “…Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.
The Lord makes intercession for us, and we are to learn from His example and do the same for others.”

Maybe as you’re reading this, you are wondering what benefit or fruit there is to gain from intercessory prayer. Here’s the thing: God uses prayer to align our hearts to His will. When we pray, God works in our hearts. He conforms us to His will and fills us with His peace. When we ask the Holy Spirit to intercede on the behalf of others, we pray for them because we love them and want them to come to know God more deeply in their situation.

Luke 6:28 even tells us to, “pray for those who mistreat you.” So not only are we to intercede in prayer for those we love, but we should even intercede for those who hurt us – those that we would even call our enemies. Interceding in prayer for them takes our eyes off the bitterness we unforgiveness we may harbor, and instead helps us to grow in empathy for them and desire for their heart and life to be made right with God.

Ultimately, it takes the focus off of us and our hurt, and instead turns our heart toward Christ and His heart.

Another benefit that comes from making intercession for others is that it helps us to grow spiritually. God grows and stretches us in our prayer life. Sometimes God doesn’t answer your prayer in the way you want or in the time you want. We may see these times as God not answering us at all; but in reality, “no” is still an answer. We may feel like nothing is being accomplished, but God is still working.

The benefit is seen on the inside. How? Well first, prayer changes the way you relate to God’s Word. As you seek out scripture and dig into the Bible, you will see certain passages in a different light and the Holy Spirit will use them to help you persevere and get through the situation. Second, prayer matures you spiritually. By turning to God’s Word first, and not acting on impulse, we give ourselves a chance to calm down and allow God to help us respond maturely. For example, when we pray for someone who has hurt us, we continue to obey God praying for this person – not because it will magically fix everything, but because He is still good.

I once heard a sermon in which a pastor stated, “Your circumstances are not a direct representation of the goodness of God.” What a great thing to remember when God gives us an answer we don’t like! Because here’s the thing: God still works and accomplishes things even when we feel stuck.

Corrie Ten Boom said, “We never know how God will answer our prayers, but we can expect that He will get us involved in His plan for the answer. If we are true intercessors, we must be ready to take part in God’s work on behalf of the people for whom we pray.”

So how can we be obedient and intercede for others in prayer?

Your flesh, that old sin nature, does not want to intercede in prayer for others. So when the Holy Spirit inside of you gives you that awareness and stirring to take action on behalf of others, don’t be quick to dismiss it.

One way we can be obedient and intercede for others is simply by doing it – praying right then and there for that need on behalf of another person.

Why is it that we hesitate to take time out of our day to intercede for others? Do we think it takes too much effort? Are we tired and just don’t want to expend the mental energy needed to “do it justice”? Those are silly excuses the enemy feeds us because it doesn’t take hours of preparation to pray for another person. It’s an attitude of the heart, it’s communication with the Lord, and a simple request on behalf of your friend.

The enemy wants to deter us or distract us from being obedient. We need to be aware of his schemes and the way we combat these excuses is to put obedience over feelings.

We also need to stay sensitive to the Holy Spirit as He brings people and their needs to our mind. We may hear the news of someone losing a family member, or the troubles missionaries are having overseas or in another state, for example. But we shouldn’t just let those things go in one ear and out the other. Our spirit should be burdened for those people because the Holy Spirit wants to use us to go to the Father in prayer on their behalf. So when a verse comes to mind, or a song you hear stirs your heart, or a book you are reading suddenly reminds you of a person or a situation, respond to those thoughts the Holy Spirit places on your heart and in your mind and reach out to that person. Their loneliness and cries for help and encouragement could be answered through you. They may be praying for the Lord to intervene, and He may choose to work in and through you to help that person.

It doesn’t even have to be for someone who is grieving or terminally ill or missionaries. Even your own child as they commute to college/high school, work, etc. Your anxiety over their safety and wellbeing may prompt you to intercede on their behalf for God’s hand of protection to be on them. Or maybe your adult child is dealing with marriage trouble, job/career choices, infertility or miscarriage or is single and you are praying for their future spouse. Those again are “worries” or concerns that you take on their behalf to God in prayer, seeking His favor and His mighty work to be brought about in their life.

One of the sweetest and most encouraging things we can do is involve others in our intercession. What does that look like? Maybe you text that person your prayer. Maybe you send them a voice recording of your prayer for them. Maybe you send them a card in the mail to let them know you are praying for them. Maybe you visit with them at their home or meet with them at church or for coffee and you personally pray with them, for them, and over them.

When we are obedient to Christ, we become a conduit of His mighty work in the life of others. What a humbling opportunity to be part of God’s work! It is not an obligation or a drudgery, it’s a privilege and an honor!

Above all, praying for others brings God glory. We should seek to glorify God in every aspect of our life. When we pray for others, we are reflecting the way Jesus prays for us, we are reflecting God’s kindness, and we are drawn closer to the Lord.

Ask the Lord to put someone on your heart who needs prayer and then follow through and pray over them. Consider taking the next step of obedience and send them that prayer so they can read it and know how you are praying for them. Let’s love one another by lifting each other up in prayer to our Father in Heaven.