Intercession

As Nehemiah considered the terrible situation for his nation, he was moved to ask God to show favor and gather them back together in Jerusalem, in part by giving him success in his requests to a foreign king.

Nehemiah 2:8-11
Remember the word that you commanded your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples, but if you return to me and keep my commandments and do them, though your outcasts are in the uttermost parts of heaven, from there I will gather them and bring them to the place that I have chosen, to make my name dwell there.’ They are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your great power and by your strong hand. O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who delight to fear your name, and give success to your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.”

A prayer like this, a request for other people’s good, is called intercession. And it comes from the heart of a person who genuinely cares. To love someone is to desire God to work for their good and to ask God for that grace.

So, the prayer life of a leader who cares is filled with intercession! Spend some time in prayer right now for the good of the people in your family, community, workplace, or networks. Consider beginning like this:

I pray, as I am taught, for all people, believing that this is good and pleasing in the sight of God my Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth and of Jesus Christ, 1 Timothy 2:3-4(ESV)
who gave himself as a ransom for all. 1 Timothy 2:6(ESV)

O look with compassion upon the world that lies in the power of the evil one, 1 John 5:19(ESV)
and let the ruler of this world be cast out, John 12:31(ESV)
who has blinded their minds. 2 Corinthians 4:4(ESV)

O let your way be known on earth, Psalm 67:2(ESV)
let your saving power be known among all nations. Let the peoples praise you, O God; yes, let all the peoples praise you: O let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations upon earth. Psalm 67:2-4(ESV)

O make the nations your Son’s heritage, and the ends of the earth his possession. Psalm 2:8(ESV)
Let all the kingdoms of the world become the kingdom of the Lord and of his Christ. Revelation 11:15(ESV)

Save your people, O Lord, and bless your heritage; be their shepherd and carry them forever. Psalm 28:9(ESV)

Give strength to your people, and bless your people with peace; Psalm 29:11(ESV)
cover them with favor as with a shield. Psalm 5:12(ESV)
Grace be with all who love the Lord Jesus Christ with love incorruptible. Ephesians 6:24(ESV)

I pray for all who believe in Christ, that they may all be one; John 17:20-21(ESV)
and give to all Christians to be of one heart and one way. Jeremiah 32:39(ESV)

Prayer Points

Consider praying along the prompts in the “Our Congregation” or “Families in our Congregation” sections of the prayer points found here.