Prayer is talking to God. The Episcopal Church, USA describes eight types of prayer, or ways that believers can talk to God; adoration, praise, thanksgiving, oblation, petition, and intercession. This article will explore intercession, offer suggestions to incorporate it into one's prayer life, and explain some benefits of this type of prayer.
Definition of Intercessory Prayer
"Intercession", "intercessory prayer", "prayers of intercession" and "interceding" all refer to when a believer shares concerns about others with God. Any time one person prays for another, it is intercession.
A prayer chain in a mainstream denominational church is a classic example of intercessory prayer. Someone becomes ill or enters a time of trial, and other people in the church pray for that person. Another example is one person saying to another, "I'm thinking of you." Indeed, the sympathy card industry is built on the prayers of intercession, lifting up those in bad times by letting them know others support them.
Prayers of Intercession and Jesus
Praying for others is at the root of Christian belief, as Jesus himself prayed for others. In the Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:10-14), Jesus asks God for others' needs- "our daily bread," "forgiveness of our trespasses, and to "deliver us from evil." Note that Jesus looked outside himself and his concerns to see life from others' perspectives and asked God to meet their needs. Openness to others' needs is key to interceding for them.
Suggestions for Intercessory Prayer
Sometimes, it's hard to think of who might be in need of prayer, if there is not a pressing concern at hand.
The following suggestions for intercessory prayer are based on intercessions the Episcopal Church, USA uses in public worship. Try writing down a few of people or situations in your life or community that concern you under each number. Change or update the list over time to keep the concerns relevent.
- God's creation- (examples include the world, animals, and the environment)
- The country where you live and its leaders
- The other countries in the world and their leaders
- Concerns of the local community- city, state, region
- People who suffer in any way (examples include illness, struggles, or losses of any kind)
- Those who have died or those who have lost loved ones recently
Praying for people on days of special significance to them is another way to creatively pray for them. A birthday, anniversary of a death, or just thinking about someone is enough of a reason to ask God for blessings in that person's life.
Benefits of Intercessory Prayer
Praying for others does not just lift up the person prayed for to God. Intercession also reaps benefits to the person praying. Interceding for others can take one's mind of one's own problems, connect one more deeply with the community and world in which one lives, and even open one up more to a sense of God in the world.
Just as smiling and talking to people at a party builds connections and relationships, so does praying for others. When one person prays for others, the person praying is more likely to think of others, take the time to listen to them, and be a part of their lives. Offering others support and encouragement can deepen relationships and give a person a sense of meaning and purpose separate from themselves and their own lives. By saying a prayer for someone else, it can benefit both people.
Prayers of Intercession, reaching out to God on behalf of others, are a simple way to pray for others and be connected in relationships.
For guides to other types of prayer, see Prayers of Thanksgiving to learn about thanksgivings or Prayers of Petition to explore praying for the self.
"Catechism." Book of Common Prayer. Episcopal Church, USA. Church Publishing Corporation. 1979.
