Intercessory Prayer
An important part of the From God Not Her ministry is intercessory prayer. Each month, our encouragement writers spend time praying individually over the letter recipients. We often don’t know the specific needs of our friends receiving the notes, but we trust God does. Praying on behalf of others is a beautiful part of the Christian community and it has roots deep in Scripture.
While I don’t know the very first instance of intercessory prayer, we read about Moses often praying on behalf of the Israelites during the Exodus and the 40 years they wandered in the wilderness. The Israelites were freed from harsh bondage in Egpyt, witnessed amazing miracles by God’s hand, but spent a lot of time complaining and returning to old habits. (I find I relate to the Israelites in my own walk with the Lord.) Moses interceded for the people when God determined to punish them. Not just once, but multiple times! One beautiful prayer stuck out to me as I read Deuteronomy recently:
“O Lord God, do not destroy your people and your heritage, whom you have redeemed through your greatness, whom you have brought out of Egypt with a mighty hand. Remember your servants, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Do not regard the stubborness of this people, or their wickedness or their sin, lest the land from which you brought us say, ‘Because the Lord was not able to bring them into the land that he promised them, and because he hated them, he has brought them out to put to death in the wilderness.’ For they are your people and your heritage, whom you brought out by your great power and by your outstretched arm.”
Deuteronomy 9:26-29
Moses, though frustrated at times himself with the constant grumbling and troubles the Israelites caused, fought for them through prayer.
On whose behalf are you fighting?
We don’t need to have the right words to intercede for others; we just need to have the heart. Jesus taught us to pray simply.
Father, help them.
Lord God, heal her.
Abba, comfort him.
You can fight on your knees for someone you know well or for a stranger. You may know their struggles intimately, but it’s not a requirement when interceding for others. Intercessory prayer is powerful either way because we serve a God who is greater than our words.
Blessings,
From God Not Her
*Please pray for all of the innocent lives being torn apart right now both in Ukraine and Russia. This is a great way to start interceding if you’ve never practiced it.
**We are nearly one week into the Lenten season! You can read here about Lent. If you haven’t decided on a way to draw close to Christ in this season, consider making intercessory prayer your focus for the next six weeks.