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Welcome to season 2 of the Determined to Dance podcast. I pray that you’ll be uplifted, encouraged, and will move forward each and every day. Today’s episode, Praying for Others: Pressing In, looks at how prayer can take new ground for the kingdom.
Show Notes: Praying for Others: Pressing In
Throughout this series of praying for others, I’ll refer to scriptures and also different books I use as resources. Today’s book about prayer is Penetrating the Darkness by Jack Hayford. The Hebrew word for intercession is pagah which means “to impinge, by accident or by violence.” The concept can include taking territory, pressing in, and praying through. Through prayer, we and those we lift up, can see the fullness of the boundaries that God intended for us to reach. We can be all and do all that God intends for us in His will. But not without prayer.
Intercession and prayer are not interchangeable words. Intercession is a dimension of prayer. When we intercede for others, we seek guidance from the Father about ourselves or another person and their needs. What does interceding for others do?
- Intercession helps us align with the will of God. Jesus prays according to God’s will. We find His will by seeking Him through His Word and prayer. “Likewise, the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.” Romans 8: 26-27
- Intercession fights against the attacks of the enemy. When we or others struggle, we pray against the work of the enemy and his advancement into our world and to see the love, mercy, and grace of God. “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” Ephesians 6:12
- Intercession takes new ground for the kingdom. We pray to see people brought to Jesus through salvation, experience a deeper relationship, and push the enemy back. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” II Corinthians 5:17
- Intercession places us to respond to the unexpected. We can be at the right place and time to pray if we are sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s leading. “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.” John 14:26
One evening, I was returning home after taking my granddaughter to the doctor. As I drove through town, I had an overwhelming sense to drive slower. My speed was normal and there were no cars close to me but it was such a strong nudge that I did just that. Right before I reached the next intersection, another car ran a red light and three cars collided. I was able to swerve past the accident, keeping me and my granddaughter safe. If I would have kept my normal speed, we would have been in the middle of the wreck. It also placed me where I could immediately pray for help to arrive timely for the people involved, peace and comfort in the chaos, and healing for those hurt.
This isn’t an example of an overwhelming miracle just for me. God speaks to all of us softly every day to aid us in life and place us to help others. I don’t always take the time or limit distractions so I can hear His gentle voice, but I’m so glad I did that day.
Jesus pressed in to accomplish the will of God through intercession. A most beloved part of the Bible, Isaiah 53: 5; 11-12 says: “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed … He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied. By His knowledge, My righteous Servant shall justify many, for He shall bear their iniquities. Therefore, I will divide Him a portion with the great, and He shall divide the spoil with the strong, because He poured out His soul unto death, and He was numbered with the transgressors, and He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.”
Jesus poured out His soul, bore our sins, and prayed for us while we were sinners. What a wonderful Savior we serve. And we have the privilege to pray for others and be more like Him. He sacrificed for us and we can do the same. We can sacrifice time to spend in prayer, immerse ourselves in His Word, and seek His will when we intercede.
We press in until we pray through. I prayed for the salvation of my husband for years until I felt a release to pray in other areas for him. It was several more years before I saw the fruit of prayer by myself and others but now he is one of the most active members of our church and goes out of his way daily to help others. We’ve even been on a mission trip together.
As I’ve grown older, my prayer is now that the people I intercede for will experience salvation and healing, or see their needs met whether I live to see it or not. I want to remain faithful until the end. And I know you do to. We’ll dance with God in His will and His ways, loving people through our actions and prayer.
Let’s pray: Father God, we thank you for showing us a deeper dimension in prayer. We want to pray like your Son did and does to this day. We seek Your will, fight the attacks of the enemy, take new ground, and respond to the unexpected in prayer. Help us to stand strong and firm in faith because You hear our every word we lift to You. In Jesus’ name, we pray, amen.
The mighty power of prayer. Interceding while not giving up and not giving in. The people of God are pressing in to see God’s glory spread throughout the earth through intercession. A wonderful act of love. Next week, we’ll discuss how to pray for those in authority. Until then, stay determined to dance.
Links:
Penetrating the Darkness by Jack Hayford
My debut novel, Jessie’s Hope
Remember: Praying for Others: Pressing In
Video of the week:
I absolutely love music and each week I’d like to share a relevant song we can enjoy together.
Thank you for this, Jennifer!
I used to hear people talk about “praying thru” on an object of prayer. This feels like a good, clear description.
Thanks, Dave. 🙂
We can all benefit from praying for our family and friends
We can!