Guide to Intercession
Learn how to stand in the gap for others, intercede with power and purpose, and experience the transformative role of intercessory prayer in your life and the lives of those you love.
What is Intercession?
Intercession is praying on behalf of someone else. It's standing in the gap between God and those who need His intervention. When you intercede, you're not praying for yourself—you're bringing the needs, struggles, and circumstances of others before God's throne.
The word "intercession" comes from Latin and literally means "to go between" or "to plead on behalf of." Intercessors are spiritual advocates—women who say "I will pray for you" and mean it with their whole heart, consistently bringing people and situations before God.
Intercession is one of the highest callings available to believers. It's an act of love, sacrifice, and faith. When you intercede, you acknowledge that God is more powerful than any circumstance, and you trust Him to work on behalf of those you're praying for.
1 Timothy 2:1-2
"I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness."
Why Intercession Matters
🙏 It Reflects God's Heart
God is an intercessor. Jesus sits at the right hand of the Father interceding for us (Romans 8:34). When we intercede, we're participating in Christ's ministry and reflecting His love for others.
⚡ It Releases God's Power
Prayer moves the hand of God. While God's will is ultimately sovereign, He has chosen to work through the prayers of His people. Intercession unlocks divine intervention in impossible situations.
💔 It Demonstrates Sacrificial Love
Intercession is an act of love. You're giving your time, energy, and heart to pray for others' wellbeing. It's choosing their good over your own convenience. It's Jesus-like.
🌟 It Changes You
As you intercede for others, God changes your heart. You become more compassionate, more aware of suffering, more faith-filled. Your own walk with God deepens as you intercede for others.
🤝 It Builds Community
When you commit to interceding for others, you become woven into the fabric of their lives. You share their burdens, celebrate their victories, and become part of their support system.
🎯 It Accomplishes God's Will
Intercession aligns situations with God's will. As you pray God's Word and God's desires for others' lives, you're actively participating in bringing His kingdom to earth.
How to Intercede Effectively
Know Who You're Praying For
Before you intercede, understand the person and their situation. Ask them about their needs. Listen carefully. The more you know about someone's circumstances, struggles, and hopes, the more effectively you can intercede.
Pray Scripture Over Their Situation
Use God's Word as the foundation for your intercession. Find Bible verses that relate to their need and pray those verses over them. Scripture-based prayer is powerful because it aligns with God's will and authority.
Pray with Authority and Faith
Don't pray tentatively or doubtfully. As a child of God and a believer in Jesus, you have authority in prayer. Pray with confidence that God hears and will respond according to His will.
Intercede Consistently
One prayer isn't usually enough. Effective intercession is persistent. Keep praying for the same people and situations until you see results or God gives you peace to stop.
Bind and Loose Strategically
The concepts of binding and loosing (Matthew 16:19) are powerful intercessory tools. Bind demonic influences, bind fear, bind addiction, bind disease. Loose healing, freedom, clarity, and God's provision.
Thank God in Advance
End your intercession by thanking God for how He's going to work. This demonstrates faith and gratitude. It shifts your mindset from worry to trust.
Support Your Intercession with Action
Prayer alone isn't enough if you can help. If you're praying for someone's financial need, help if you can. If you're praying for someone's healing, visit them and encourage them. Let your intercession lead to practical action.
Categories of Intercession
💔 Personal Intercession
Praying for specific people you know—family members, friends, coworkers, neighbors. This is intimate intercession rooted in relationship.
Focus Areas:
- • Salvation and spiritual growth
- • Health and healing
- • Relationships and reconciliation
- • Work and purpose
- • Overcoming addictions and struggles
👨👩👧👦 Family Intercession
Praying for your immediate family, extended family, and family situations. Family intercession is powerful because family relationships are foundational.
Focus Areas:
- • Unity and harmony in the home
- • Children's protection and development
- • Spouse/partner's growth and purpose
- • Aging parents' health and faith
- • Healing of family wounds and patterns
⛪ Corporate Intercession
Praying with others for shared concerns. Corporate intercession has special power because two or more are agreeing in prayer.
Focus Areas:
- • Church leadership and direction
- • Church plant and growth
- • Missions and outreach
- • Community needs
- • Revival and spiritual awakening
🌍 Global Intercession
Praying for nations, leaders, persecuted believers, unreached people groups, and global situations. Global intercession expands your prayer life beyond personal concerns.
Focus Areas:
- • Persecuted Christians worldwide
- • Missionaries in foreign lands
- • Unreached people groups
- • Government leaders and peace
- • Crisis situations and disasters
⚔️ Spiritual Warfare Intercession
Praying against spiritual darkness and demonic influence. This intercession acknowledges that our struggle is not against flesh and blood but against spiritual forces.
Focus Areas:
- • Breaking demonic strongholds
- • Protecting believers from deception
- • Binding enemy plans and schemes
- • Loosing God's truth and power
- • Advancing God's kingdom against darkness
Building a Consistent Intercession Practice
Your Intercession Roadmap
Week 1: Identify Your Prayer Partners
Create a list of people you want to intercede for. Include family, friends, church leaders, missionaries, and people with special needs.
Week 2: Establish a Prayer Rhythm
Decide when and where you'll pray. Will you intercede daily? Weekly? At specific times? Create a rhythm you can sustain.
Week 3: Learn Key Scripture Passages
Find Bible verses that relate to the needs of your prayer partners. Memorize them so you can pray Scripture over these people.
Week 4: Create a Prayer Journal
Write down your prayers, the people you're interceding for, and how God answers. This helps you stay accountable and celebrate God's work.
Tips for Sustaining Intercession
- • Find an Accountability Partner: Have someone who also intercedes. You can pray together and encourage each other.
- • Celebrate Answered Prayers: When God answers, celebrate loudly. This builds faith for future intercession.
- • Rotate Your Prayer List: Don't get stuck praying for the same things. As situations resolve, add new people and new needs.
- • Stay Connected: Keep in touch with your prayer partners. Ask for updates on their situations so your prayers stay relevant.
- • Invest in Prayer Books: Read books on prayer and intercession to deepen your understanding and passion.
- • Attend Prayer Events: Join prayer meetings, prayer vigils, and prayer conferences when possible.
Key Scriptures on Intercession
Romans 8:26-27
"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 through wordless groans."
Ephesians 6:18-19
"And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and petitions. For this, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord's people."
James 5:16
"Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective."
Colossians 1:9-10
"For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding..."
Matthew 26:39-41
"Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, 'My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me...'"
Hebrews 7:25
"Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them."
Begin Your Intercession Journey
You have the privilege and power to stand in the gap for others. Start interceding today and watch how God works through your prayers.