What’s the role of intercessory prayer in troubled times?
If you believe in intercessory prayer, it’s very important.
How else can you “do something” when events seem to be spiraling out of control?
I often turn to Oswald Chambers, who insisted in My Utmost for His Highest on October 17: “prayer is the greater work.“
How does that work?
What is Intercessory Prayer?
To intercede is to “stand in the gap,” or “to to act or interpose in behalf of someone in difficulty or trouble, as by pleading or petition.”
Intercessory prayer, therefore, is a petition to God on behalf of someone else. That person often needs assistance.
To pray for them is to beseech God on their behalf–sometimes because they, for whatever reason, cannot pray for themselves.
Or, they need “extra prayer power,” in their circumstance.
One friend went through a divorce and even though he knew he should pray for his estranged wife, the hurt was too profound.
Since I was not involved, I volunteered to pray for his estranged wife on his behalf.
He couldn’t get his emotions under control to do the right thing. I “stood in the gap” in prayer for them.
As far as I know, she never knew.
But he did, and it helped him.
What are “troubled times?”
Please check today’s newspaper. 🙁
When you are caught in a traumatic situation–however you define it–you can become so intent on surviving or dealing with the issues, you may not stop to pray.
(Or, you may be praying the entire time!)
It helps, though, knowing others are praying for you–talking to God, asking for mercy, wisdom, insight, ideas!
When we went through the 2017 and 2020 fires in our community, all sorts of people prayed for us–they interceded with God on our behalf.
We knew friends were praying for us and that helped us deal with the nightmares coming from all different directions.
Did their intercessory prayer bring us peace?
Yes.
We were praying, too, of course, but when you in the midst of disaster, it’s hard to take a step back and really think about what you need.
Other than, “get me out of here, Lord!”
What’s the role of an intercessor in intercessory prayer?
I’ve written about this subject here and here.
It involves determination and a heart for other people.
For Rees Howells and the Bible College of Wales, it meant praying from seven to midnight, all 2000+ days of World War II. They never missed a day.
What were those intercessory prayers for so many years?
Their prayers were specific, followed the war, focused on the Word of God, and were confident.
“We are going up to the battle and I am as sure of victory as of dawn. If you know you have faith for something, would you not go on until you got it? I would like this to ring out to the world: ‘The Lord, He is the God!'”
Rees Howells, Intercessor; page 296
Like his friend Lettie Cowman, Howells spent much time in intercessory prayer and in searching the Scriptures for answers.
He likened the intercessory prayer he spoke on behalf of England to a spiritual war:
There is intercession and faith, so the Lord can do a mighty deed. our people will see God answering their prayers and they will have all the joy of it.
Rees Howells, Intercessor; page 301
Howells’ confidence lay in the God he know. “If you have faith,” he said, “You can leave it in His hand, and He will intervene in the right time.”
More from Chambers
OC’s December 13 reading from My Utmost for His Highest, has more advice:
You cannot truly intercede through prayer if you do not believe in the reality of redemption. Instead, you will simply be turning intercession into useless sympathy for others. . . .
As an intercessor, be careful not to seek too much informatoin from God regarding the situation . . . because you might be overwhelmed. If you know too much . . . the circumstances of the people become so overpowering that you are not longer able to get to the underly truth. . . .
Intercession . . . keeps our relationship completely open with God.
My Utmost for His Highest, December 13 (excerpts)
What does the Bible say about intercessory prayer?
Plenty. Take your lead from what the Bible says about intercessory prayer–and what to pray about–from these verses:
- Nehemiah 1
- Ezekiel 22:30
- Isaiah 59:16
- Matthew 5:44; 28:19
- Romans 8:26; 15:30.
- 1 Timothy 2:1-4
Intercessory prayer is an important gift. As Oswald Chambers also noted :
“Jesus Christ carries on intercession for us in heaven; the Holy Ghost carries on intercession in us on earth; and we the saints have to carry on intercession for all men and women.”
Christian Disciplines
It’s important work. Let’s all pray for peace in our world this day.
Tweetables
Why engage in intercessory prayer during troubled times? Click to Tweet
Oswald Chambers and Rees Howells on intercessory prayer in troubled times. Click to Tweet
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