10 Principles of Intercessory Prayer.

Intercession is a type of intensified communication with God and it is a prayer, which is made on behalf of someone or a group of people.  The word Intercession has Greek origins ‘ to falling with a person, to draws near so as to converse freely, with freedom of access’ It is acting as a go between for the person or group of people and ‘standing in the gap’ for him/her/ them.

PRINCIPLES OF INTERCESSORY PRAYER: 

There are 10 important principles, which should be practiced by the intercessor when he/she is engaged in Intercessory Prayer.   The Intercessor should always:

1. Commence the prayer by Praising God.  He/she must enter into the presence of God and praise Him for being God solely.
2. Acknowledge the need to Repent and have a change of heart through confession.
3. Acknowledge the Power of the Spirit and Ask for an infilling of the Holy Spirit in order to pray effectively.
4.  Acknowledge the existence of the enemy/evil one but acknowledge that God is all- powerful and in that strength cast aside the enemy and all his works.
5.Cast aside our own desire/thoughts/ imaginations and burdens.
6.  Praise God in faith knowing that he/she is always heard and that each prayer encounter is always special.
7. Listen for God’s direction- Wait in Silent expectancy.
8. Speak out in faith what God bring to his/her mind and pray in obedience in faith to Him.
9. Have a Bible ready so that confirmation of His direction may be received through His Word.
10. Finish the intercessory prayer by offering to God prayers of praise and thanksgiving.  He is the potter and the intercessory is the clay. He/she should always give God the Glory.

The Ten principles cited are soundly based and require the intercessor to be humble and to be in tune with God.  This is important as the intercessor is human and has weaknesses and is not pure in the sight of God. In acknowledging one’s weaknesses, the intercessory learns humility.  The person or group of people being prayed for may not seemingly receive what is asked; however all prayers are answered.  The Intercessor does not know the mind of God.

A PERSONAL NOTE:


We can offer an intercessory prayer at the beginning of the day and then offer the day/week for individuals and/or groups of people.  In more recent times, I have experienced the bonus of offering intercessory prayer in this manner.  I have discovered that the challenges and suffering I endure become fruitful and purposeful when I have placed my day as an offering for either an individual or group of people in need.

For example, getting up during the night numerous times to my elderly mother becomes burdensome at a physical and mental level, but knowing that I am offering my 24 hour day and that God will take this offering and bring some benefit for the person/group of people I am praying for gives some impetus to get out of bed yet again. It does not stop me getting tired during the day or wishing for a good night's sleep uninterrupted, but it helps to give me a spiritual dimension to what is tedious and at times frustrating. It also saves my soul from unwanted sin such as jealousy, resentment and anger.

In many of my posts, I do not give personal examples- but I hope that giving something of myself it may open a door for consideration in your life.  Perhaps there is a work colleague or a parishioner that may become a focus of your intercessory prayer. 

Just imagine if we decided to intercede for one person each day for a year, we would have stood in the breach before God for 365 of our brothers and sisters in Christ.  Perhaps it could be a parish project.

Let us remember to include the Church in waiting-the souls in purgatory- they can pray for us..intercede for us, but they cannot pray for themselves.  Let us give them our prayer and love also.