I am a gift giver. I love the thrill of searching for just the right thing or stumbling upon it by chance and then beautifully wrapping it up (thank you Hallmark college job experience) and watching someone’s face when they open it. I love to get gifts for my husband and our daughter, for members of my church, for co-workers and even my neighbors. The best gifts come in all forms and speak to the receiver’s heart and needs. Maybe it’s a silly toy to brighten their day or some baked goods that allow them to feel noticed and cared for.
The greatest gift that gets forgotten, overlooked and unnoticed, is prayer. Whether you’re needing a pick-me-up yourself or wanting to do something impactful for someone else. We know that prayer is essential in the lives of all believers but there is an unexplainable shift that happens in the atmosphere when we intercede on behalf of others.
Intercessory prayer is to intervene on behalf of someone else and to fight for their victory. When we pray, we don’t settle for second best – we ask for God’s best! When I pray for my daughter, there are times I’m so aware of the existence of spiritual warfare. Whether I’m quietly and calmly asking God to bless her, crying out for Him to heal her body, declaring God’s promises over her or just speaking victory over her future and relationship with God – I know that God hears and cares for all of it. I know that God can use my prayers; and yours, to move heaven and earth.
To intercede for someone is THE most powerful and practical way we can express our love for them.
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.
I know that the prayers over me have been heard and answered, because I’m here right now! I know there were moments in my life that God healed me, God protected me, God kept my heart soft. God provided perfectly and God strengthened my faith when it made no sense.
Think right now of where you would be if you did not have people in your life who prayed for you? 1 Timothy 2:1 says, “First of all, then I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving be made for all people.”
If you aren’t praying for them, who is?
Ephesians 6:17-18 tells us to, “take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints.”
If you’re not sure how to intercede for others,
start by declaring God’s promises over them.
Romans 12:10-12 tell us, “ Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal but keep your spiritual favor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”
What greater gift or service can we give our children, our spouses, our Stonecroft Family, our community than to regularly pray for them?
Every moment you spend in prayer over someone else is time you are investing in them, in the Kingdom of heaven and in growing your own faith.
Prayer is not a backup plan, it is our greatest asset! Instead of struggling and wracking your brain with what to do and how to do it – give it to God and let prayer do the heavy lifting! You can pray big, even when you feel weak. You can declare promises, when you don’t have the right words. You can claim victory, even when you are in the valley.
We are called to follow Christ’s example and Scripture tells us that He is regularly interceding on our behalf! How beautiful is that love? How beautiful is it to pray for someone else?
It is impossible to measure the power of your prayers through the authority and truth of God.