Prayer as Intercession

Intercession is intervening on behalf of someone else. When we pray as intercessors we are praying for another person in order to change their situation and outcome. Intercession is for the benefit of the other people we pray for, not our own benefit. 

The Bible shows us that God has the heart of an intercessor. Jesus Christ, the son of God intercedes for us continually with The Father. God is Truth and God is Love. As ultimate truth, God judges the world with righteousness and his judgements are true. As ultimate love, God tells us to "go and learn what this means, I desire mercy and not sacrifice." God's verdicts are honest and just, but He is also looking for any good reason to commute His judgements to mercy. 

During intercession, our prayers for others become the reason for God to pour out His mercy and change the outcome. In Ezekiel chapter 22, we are told that God searched for someone to stand before Him for the sake of the land. Likewise, we are told to "bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." Galatians 6:2 ESV. 

Three examples of people the Bible mentions we should pray for are: people in authority, people who don't know Christ, and our enemies. As we go through this week, let's seek opportunities to intercede for people of these three groups in our prayers to God. Let's pray for their specific needs and according to this example Paul gives us in his letter to the Colossians.

"So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better." Colossians 1:9‭-‬10 NLT

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we come before you to intercede for our pastors, our government officials and leaders, the people who have done us wrong this week and the lost that need You. Anoint our pastors and fill them with Your Holy Spirit as they prepare their sermons this week. Guide our leaders to make decisions that will better our communities and our nation. Provide and bless our enemies the way only You can. And Lord, most of all, seek the lost the way You sought me. Show them the way, the only way, through Your Holy Son. We pray for all this in Your Mighty Name. AMEN.