Freelance writer  Lupie Riley

Thought:  What does God’s Word teach us about intercessory prayer?

I think of the story of Lot.  His life and daughters were saved through Abraham’s intercessory prayer.  They had to be dragged out of Sodom. (Gen. chapt. 18-19).

Elijah prayed and no rain fell for 3 ½ years.  He prayed a second time and the rain began to fall watering the grasses and gardens.  A God miracle through prayer.

The father of the prodigal son prayed for many years before his son returned home. He was faithful in his prayer life.

Moses prayed and the Israelites crossed through the water on dry ground.  There are so many instances of the faithful and miracles that followed from intercessory prayer.  How important is it to intercede on behalf of relatives, friends, loved ones, world events, those who are lost, etc.?

Prayers from the body of Christ. He hears our prayers:  Math. 18:20 “ For where two or three gather together because they are mine, I will be right there among them.” I John 5:14 “And we are sure of this—that he will listen to us whenever we ask him for anything in line with his will.”

We should pray about everything: Phill. 4:6,7 “Don’t worry about anything; tell God your needs and don’t forget to thank him for his answers.  If you do this you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand.  His peace will keep your thoughts and your hearts quiet and at rest as you trust in Christ Jesus.”

When we don’t know how to pray: Rom. 8:26,27 “And in the same way—by our faith—the Holy Spirit helps us with our daily problems and in our praying. For we don’t even know what we should pray for, nor how to pray as we should; but the Holy Spirit prays for us with such feeling that it cannot be expressed in words.”

Jesus interceded for future generations:  John 17:20, 15 “I am not praying for these alone but also for the future believers who will come to me because of the testimony of these.” V. 17 “I’m not asking you to take them out of the world but to keep them safe from Satan’s power.” Read his prayer in John chapt. 17

God tells us to boldly enter His throne of grace. Heb 4:16 “So let us come boldly to the very throne of God and stay there to receive his mercy and to find grace to help us in our times of need.”

Prayer:  Father God, thank you for interceding for us when we are in doubt as to how to pray for a loved one.  I also see the importance of praying for my loved ones and the lost. Amen

Verse:  James 5:16 “Admit your faults to one another and pray for each other so that you may be healed.  The earnest prayer of a righteous man (women) has great power and wonderful results.” 

Married 58 years, four children, nine grandchildren and three greats.  I've been a freelance writer for over 40 years.  Working on a book at the present.  My priorities are God first, family, country. Look me up on Google search by my name Lupie Riley, click on first link. Faithwriters.com