Intercede

Intercede

I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them.

MY FINGERS HOVERING over my phone’s keyboard, I paused. I wanted to know how my friend’s sister was doing, knowing she’d been rushed to the hospital the evening before, but I found myself hesitating. Do I really need that information? Can’t I pray over her, over their family without asking that question? What is the best way I can support my friend in this moment?

Instead of asking for updates, I texted her a prayer, asking God for the words, for what specifically to pray for as I typed. And as I typed, the words came to me unbidden, gushing forth as I poured my heart out on my friend’s behalf. Sending it off with an emoji heart and a note that she need not respond. There wasn’t anything I could do for my friend physically, but I interceded for her spiritually, praying both for her sister and for her.

Intercession is one of my favorite things about being in a faith community. The incredible story of Peter’s imprisonment and subsequent middle-of-the-night rescue at the hands of an angel detailed in Acts 12 is preceded by the simple statement that the church was praying earnestly, fervently, unceasingly upon learning of his imprisonment (see Acts 12:5). Intercessory prayer is a habit woven throughout both the Old and New Testaments, with Jesus’ prayer in the garden of Gethsemane (recorded in John 17) being especially poignant as he prayed over not only his disciples but also over all future believers.

Life sometimes feels impossibly hard, and attempting to go it alone leaves us vulnerable spiritually. It’s those moments when we need women who notice and respond, women who firmly and lovingly stand alongside us, women who intercede on our behalf, praying the prayers we are too tired or too discouraged to pray. And while we are often good at meeting a friend’s physical needs with a meal dropped off or assistance in other ways, we might forget that prayerful intercession is perhaps the most valuable gift we can give another.

Lord, give us eyes and ears to notice the people around us desperately in need of intercession. Amen.

-Julie

One Good Step: Text someone a prayer.