Letters from My Heart: A Prayer of Intercession

  

"The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much" James 5:16b NKJV

Intercession
Intercessory prayer is an act of service. Interceding for others is an act of taking personal needs and placing them on the back burner in order to effectively and fervently pray for others. Dr. Charles Stanley puts it best:
"We must recognize that our prayers are the link between another person's need and God's inexhaustible resources" Intercession goes beyond the realm of self to reach the heart of God on behalf of someone else.
Intercessory prayer allows us to follow the intercession pattern of the Holy Spirit. Romans 8:26 states, "In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express." As we pray for others by interceding for them we express to God what they may not be able to express for themselves. Prayer is a privilege; however intercessory prayer is where true breakthrough takes place. Take time today to pray your friends, neighborhoods, enemies, government, the people of this nation and the people of the world. By engaging in this intercession you truly touch the heart of God.

Prayer
Lord, thank you for the opportunity to pray for my neighbors, friends, strangers, family, nation and the world. I stand in the gap on their behalf even now. I pray your mercy and kindness toward them and that they would experience growth in you.
Thank you for the desire to pray as the Holy Spirit prays, these prayers are always in line with your will.
I pray for the world in which we live that your mercy will be upon it and the glory of your presence will be seen. Thank you for loving and embracing all of us. In Jesus name-Amen.

Resource: Dr. Charles Stanley Life Principles Bible