… Let’s Get Practical About Intercessory Prayer. c Jim Found 2025
Perhaps you are concerned about the problems of the world, and you would like to be more consistent in prayer for it. Perhaps you are concerned about specific people, and you would like guidance in specific ways to pray for then. Let us look to our heavenly father who has given us new life in Christ and who not only “gives us the desire but also empowers us to accomplish His will” (Phil. 2:13)
A. POWER IN PRAYER. We are not to think that a certain technique of prayer is more effective than another. Prayer itself has no power. Prayer is simply making requests to God, and all the power lies with Him. This is why we are told to pray “In Jesus’ Name.” This means that the power and the qualifications are in Christ, not in us. 1 Tim 2:5 calls Jesus the mediator, which includes being the go-between in prayer. Hebrews 19:25 says that it is because the blood of Jesus has broken down the barrier between us and God that “we have confidence to enter the holy place” (to come to God with our requests). Discuss: do people ever feel that they are not worthy or religious enough for God to help them? How does the concept of “praying in Jesus’ name” relate to this problem?
B. GOD’S PROMISE AS THE BASIS. We may think “the world has so many problems, and there is really nothing I can do about them.” But here is a promise of God found in 1 John 5:14-15: “And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.” Discuss: Does this mean we are guaranteed to get anything we ask for in prayer?
C. EXCUSES. Though God’s promise is clear, and our new self by its very nature clings to that promise, our old nature sometimes resists taking time to pray. Some excuses for failing to make prayer a priority are: feeling too busy, not being sure it would make a difference, … (What others come to mind?)
D. FOR WHOM ARE WE TO PRAY? Your prayer is an expression of love.
1 Timothy 2:1 says to pray “for all people.” This would include:
a) For not-yet-believers, pray for them to be saved, for 1 Timothy 2:4 says “God desires all people to be saved;” pray for their hearts to be changed, and for the blinders of Satan to be removed, for 2 Cor 4:4 says that “the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel.”
b) For believers: Pray for spiritual growth, as Paul did in many of his epistles; pray for protection, like Jesus who prayed “My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.” John 17:15. Pray for steadfastness, as Jesus prayed for Peter, that “your faith will not fail” Luke 22:32
c) For world affairs. 1 Timothy 2:2 says to “pray for kings and those in authority” (you could pray for one each day). When we pray for world needs, pray for the problem to be solved, and also pray for the people who are affected by the problem that God will help them to endure, that their faith would not fail, and that God would “work in it for good.” (Romans 8:28). Pray to change the hearts of those causing the problems.
d). For missionaries & church workers. In Luke 10:2 Jesus says to “pray for workers for the harvest.” In Ephesians 6:19 Paul asks “Pray for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel.”
e) For enemies. In Matt 5:41 Jesus says to pray for those that despitefully use you and persecute you. (note that it says “for” them, not “against” them). Maybe you don’t know of any personal enemies, but what about individuals or groups that are fostering wars, divisions, or lies – enemies of society?
Discuss: Considering these many options, do you feel overwhelmed, or eager to expand your prayer life?
E. TIMES FOR PRAYER
a) SET TIMES
We are blessed with the chance to set aside regular times to pray, just like we have regular times for other things like eating, checking social media, and exercise. We take time for what we feel is important. What has proven to be the best time for you for a devotion and organized prayer? Can you think of improvements you would like to make in your set prayer time?
b) SPONTANEOUS PRAYER (God says “pray without ceasing.”)
When you become aware of a need, pray at that moment. If someone asks for prayer, you could ask if you can pray right at that moment. When we have a routine task such as exercising or waiting in line, we can ask God who He would like us to pray for during that time. We can pray as we hear or read the news. What about beginning the day by praising God and asking for direction, and ending the day by expressing thanks for the way He has cared for you that day? How do you feel about taking a random thought of a person or situation as an opportunity to pray?
Just like we make a grocery list so that we include everything that we need, dividing items into categories such as dairy, meat, etc., we can place those we pray for into categories such as family, friends, church, etc., and pray for at least one on each list each day. Go to Prayer Guidebook for a sample of this approach.
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