Intercessionary prayer - how does it work?

[mathildapaws]

If you pray for someone or even an entire country, what happens next?

 

[Kris10leigh]

Wow. Way to start right off with a mind blower. Uh...

I'm thinking this is a Catholic concept? If so, I can't exactly answer from that specific view point. However, I can say that when I pray for just one person I ask God to help me help that person. So if I were pray for a whole country, I suppose I might also reserch the problems of that country, become informed, and put myself on a committee at church to aid that country. I believe in helping God make prayers happen.

Other than that, I suppose you pray and then sit back and trust in God.

 

[mathildapaws]

That's a good way of looking at it, I can see how that would work.

 

[StormyOne]

many times when the term is used it means you are praying to God in behalf of that person and asking God to do something for that person.... sorta like if I have a problem, I tell you and you then go to God to intercede on my behalf..... seems like a difficult way to do things.....

 

[Athene]

Intercessory prayer is basically praying on behalf of someone, I suppose you could view it as a difficult way of doing things however, some people can't or won't pray for themselves so imo there is a need for intercessors and I for one am glad to have them around.

 

[mathildapaws]

What I mean is, how do you believe God helps? For example if you pray for a sick person do you believe that He might heal them or that He might give them emotional support or what?

 

[StormyOne]

What I mean is, how do you believe God helps? For example if you pray for a sick person do you believe that He might heal them or that He might give them emotional support or what?

I suspect that most when they pray for someone they do expect the prayer to be answered and the request to be granted.

 

[Kris10leigh]

What I mean is, how do you believe God helps? For example if you pray for a sick person do you believe that He might heal them or that He might give them emotional support or what?

I believe God does what He feels is best. I have an ailing mother and I don't actually pray for her to get better. I always pray that God will make her comfortable and do what He thinks is best. Sometimes I think what is best would be to take her. But then she ends up doing fine again for a while and I am glad that God knew better than I. I always just figure He knows what He's doing and I ask for the courage to accept it.

 

[Izdaari Eristikon]

What I mean is, how do you believe God helps? For example if you pray for a sick person do you believe that He might heal them or that He might give them emotional support or what?

In my branch of the faith (Pentecostal), we often do pray for healings, and sometimes we get them. The final decision on that is God's of course. But it certainly doesn't hurt to ask.

 

[plmarquette]

...........Isaiah 43.26 present your legal brief before me .......
1 John 5.14-18 and assurance, of what we hope will happen... get better
Psalm 103 a promise of God ... he is our healer
Isaiah 53.3 by his (Jesus ) stripes we are healed

....whosover asks, seeks, knocks.... will be given them
ask and you will recieve.....

I asked, He heard, done deal ... Psalm 118.5

kneel down, fold hands, engage faith, speak faith words, get back up and
rejoice by faith in the hearing and doing of God on your behalf == intercession

 

[Crazy Liz]

What I mean is, how do you believe God helps? For example if you pray for a sick person do you believe that He might heal them or that He might give them emotional support or what?

Most of the time I just pray, "Lord have mercy," or "God please help this person." I think often in intercessory prayer we tune ourselves in to listen to the Spirit as to how we might be able to help, or God changes us and our attitudes when we open ourselves up to listen in a caring way. If I'm interceding for someone and they are right there, I try to express what I think they want to express to God and what I feel God wants to express to them. Knowing someone is joining with them in their request often helps a person more than anything else - more even than the request being granted. I've even been surprised lately at how even non-believers seem grateful to have someone pray for them.

 

[Pazzoom]

What I mean is, how do you believe God helps? For example if you pray for a sick person do you believe that He might heal them or that He might give them emotional support or what?

Great questions, and some very good answers, too. I happen to believe very strongly in this kind of prayer. I think it is the most worthy and valid kind of prayer for people who know God. Intercessory prayer may be offered up on behalf of anyone, anywhere. I believe it's proper to pray for whole nations, the whole world, families, individuals, friends, family members and enemies. I especially find it worthwhile to pray for those who might otherwise be only an enemy. God hears us and He delights to grant our petitions. Like any parent, though, there may be times when He has a better plan, or when He simply does not grant what we ask for in the time or way that we expect. But very often, we will see His mighty hand, and His great love at work in direct response to the prayer of some human being.

 

[Crazy Liz]

Great questions, and some very good answers, too. I happen to believe very strongly in this kind of prayer. I think it is the most worthy and valid kind of prayer for people who know God. Intercessory prayer may be offered up on behalf of anyone, anywhere. I believe it's proper to pray for whole nations, the whole world, families, individuals, friends, family members and enemies. I especially find it worthwhile to pray for those who might otherwise be only an enemy. God hears us and He delights to grant our petitions. Like any parent, though, there may be times when He has a better plan, or when He simply does not grant what we ask for in the time or way that we expect. But very often, we will see His mighty hand, and His great love at work in direct response to the prayer of some human being.

Yeah, the parent-child analogy is one I've thought about since becoming a parent. No matter how much I might want my child to have a pet, I wouldn't give him one the first time he asks. Sometimes there is a change that can only happen in us when we keep on asking that makes us ready to receive the answer. And sometimes, like the kid who asks for a puppy because he just saw a cute one, the desire turns out to only be a passing fancy you really wouldn't want to be saddled with.

But there is a lot of satisfaction in giving something you know the other person really wants and will really appreciate. I imagine God enjoys that, too.

 

[Catherineanne]

If you pray for someone or even an entire country, what happens next?

I think a more interesting way of considering this is to ask, what happens before all of this.

You are assuming that prayer is something we do. It is not. Prayer is who we are, when we have our eyes on God, and our thoughts sharing his thoughts.

Prayer is not thinking about someone, nor is it plugging into an ATM God to get some 'cash' out on someone's behalf. It is finding the mind of God, and becoming one with it, and then asking for his will to be done. It is about seeing a person through his eyes, and with his love, and learning to accept whatever we find difficult in that person, because they are wondrously and perfectly made, in the image of God. Even if they are a right git, and we want to walk out the room the moment they appear.

 

[Adammi]

If you pray for someone or even an entire country, what happens next?

I have absolutely no idea. I have thought and read and thought and read about this topic, I do not understand how intercessory prayer works. I'm not even convinced that it does. I do it regularly though and hope for the best. I think that what we can't understand is more important than what we can.

 

[mathildapaws]

Some good stuff. Thanks!

 

[ForAMomentIWillFly]

You keep praying...

 

[Crazy Liz]