"I exhort you therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions..."
This morning we look at the word "intercessions." This word means to make an appeal on behalf of someone else. In prayer, you are making an appeal to God on behalf of another.
There are times when a person may come to your mind. Whatever we may think of that person, for a believer, very often it is the Holy Spirit bringing that person to your mind to pray for them! We may say, "but I don't know what they need to be able to pray for them." That is the beautiful aspect of trusting the Holy Spirit to know what that person needs. Your prayer could be as simple as, "Lord, you just brought ________ to my mind. I don't know what their needs are right now, but You do. I am asking You, Lord, to touch their lives in such a way that You would be glorified in their heart and life. Meet their every need today."
There are also times when we personally may wonder, "is anyone praying for me?" I would like to encourage you today to know for certain One is praying for you. Listen to Hebrews 7:25, talking about Jesus: "Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, SINCE HE ALWAYS LIVES TO MAKE INTERCESSION FOR THEM!" Jesus Himself prays for you!
Intercessory prayer removes our own "self" from the prayer and concentrates on the needs of another. What a precious privilege we have to pray and to trust the Lord to touch those He lays on our hearts.
Being the love of Jesus through prayer means that you pay attention to the times a person comes to your mind--praying for them to draw nearer to Jesus and for the Lord to meet their present needs!
Keep on praying!