Prayer in essence is simple – it is the lifeline of our relationship with God as we communicate with Him. But at the same time, it is multifaceted and raises many questions. What is intercessory prayer? Are we all called to be intercessors? Who or what should we be praying for? To clarify our ideas about intercession we examine what the Bible says about intercessory prayer and its role in our everyday lives.
What Is Intercessory Prayer?
A simple definition of intercessory prayer is praying to God on behalf of someone else. For most of us it comes naturally to pray for those that we love. Our daily prayers become full of intercession as we bring our requests to God. We cover our family and friends with prayer for the large, and small, events of their lives.
But intercessory prayer goes further than personal requests for friends and family. We are encouraged to pray for those in authority and leadership, often people we don’t know and may not agree with! There is a responsibility to pray for nations, not just our own, and for international events.
What Does The Bible Say About Intercessory Prayer?
So, what is intercessory prayer in the Bible? What does Scripture say on this subject? And what examples are there of application, when, where, and how do we see intercessory prayer in action?
Old Testament Scriptures About Intercession
The Old Testament Scriptures call on God’s people to pray for the health and peace of the nation, for protection of the king, and for their friends. These are intercessory prayers that come easily from our hearts because they not only bless others but they also benefit us too.
- “if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” 2 Chron 7:14
- “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May those who love you be secure.” Psalm 122:6
- “Moreover, I hereby decree what you are to do for these elders of the Jews in the construction of this house of God… so that they may offer sacrifices pleasing to the God of heaven and pray for the well-being of the king and his sons.” Ezra 6:8,10
- “…My servant Job will pray for you, and I will accept his prayer and not deal with you according to your folly. You have not spoken the truth about me, as my servant Job has.” So Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite did what the Lord told them; and the Lord accepted Job’s prayer. After Job had prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his fortunes and gave him twice as much as he had before.” Job 42:8-10
New Testament Scriptures About Intercessory Prayer
The New Testament Scriptures reveal the complete scope of intercessory prayer. Jesus fully represents our Heavenly Father and reveals God’s heart to us. So, here in the New Testament intercessory prayer, at times, moves to another level and that it can be costly.
- “bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” Luke 6:28
- “But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” Matthew 5:44
- “Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.” Luke 18:1 Related Post: Persistence in Prayer
Intercessory Prayers in The Bible
All of Scripture teaches us that prayer is foundational to our faith. And we are encouraged to pray for those in authority, for our family and friends, the church, our community, our nation, and for other countries in the world too.
Our prayers are to be continual and persistent, we are to bring everything to God in prayer – even those who treat us unfairly. There are so many examples of intercessory prayers in the Bible, and I’ve selected just a few.
Examples of Intercession In The Bible
- Abraham interceded for Sodom on behalf of the people, and particularly his nephew Lot. (Genesis 18:16-33) In response God was merciful and sent angels to lead Lot out of Sodom.
- Moses prayed for God’s mercy over Israel’s rebellion. In response, God relented and did not bring disaster to them. (Exodus 32:11-14)
- Nehemiah prayed for the relief of the beleaguered people in Jerusalem. In response, God sent him to Jerusalem with a program of reforms. (Nehemiah 1:5-11, 2:4-6)
- Daniel, at the right time, prayed a prayer of repentance and for the restoration of Jerusalem. (Daniel 9:1-19) God responded by moving the heart of the king of Persia to allow exiles to return to Jerusalem. (Ezra 1:1-4)
- Isaiah prophesies prayer for Jerusalem, and foresees watchmen on the walls refusing to be silent until the city is established and honored on the earth. (Isaiah 62:6-7) A prayer that is still waiting complete fulfilment.
- Jesus as His ministry was coming to completion, prayed for His disciples and for His future disciples, for protection, sanctification, and unity. (John 17:6-26) After His ascension the Holy Spirit was sent, to empower, and enable disciples of Jesus!
- Jesus, in the middle of the horror of His death, prayed for forgiveness for the Roman soldiers who crucified Him. Luke 23:34, 44-49 Even His death became a witness and a testimony to His identity as the Son of God. Mark 15:38-39
- The Apostle Paul often prayed for the new churches he had visited – and asked them to also pray for him. He urged believers to pray for their leaders, in the church, and the community. 1 Timothy 2:1-2, Ephesians 6:18-20,
- James, the leader of the early church in Jerusalem, emphasized the importance of believers praying for each other. James 5:13-16 (Bible Gateway link)
What Is The Role of Intercessory Prayer In Our Lives Today?
We have the assurance of Scripture that Jesus intercedes for us in heaven as He knows how we feel. Jesus can identify with our experiences and emotions, and He care for us. How much more then should we intercede for each other? There is a calling for every believer to be an intercessor, to love and support each other with prayer.
God stirs our hearts to reveal His love by praying for other people and situations. Our prayers are a heartfelt and sincere response to a need. We are never powerless to help, because we can pray. It may be, like Nehemiah, that God is stirring our hearts to respond by doing something practical, but that prompting always starts with prayer.
God will prompt us to intercede for people – family, friends, church and community leaders. He may lay a particular cause on our hearts, to pray for our nation, for political or social reform. God may stir us to pray for another country, for provision and the spread of the gospel.
There are so many causes and charities that we can support by becoming a prayer partner. Intercessory prayer is loving, faith-filled, regular prayer in response to the needs of others. It reveals the character of God as a loving Heavenly Father and becomes His hands and feet reaching out to the world. We are given the privilege to be part of something so much bigger than our own circumstances…
“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. Pray also for me…” Ephesians 6:18-19
Keeping a prayer journal can strengthen our faith. It is encouraging to look back and see how, when, and where God has answered our prayers. Check out this new prayer journal on Amazon US, UK! The blank pages include space for a prayer log, highlighting a Scripture verse, points to reflect on, and gratitude notes. Throughout the book there are also twelve inspirational Biblical prayers.
