Message #4 (of 20) from the PrayerPower radio series
"Intercession - Our Responsibility"

by Kaye Johns

We know we’re to pray for many reasons--to worship, praise and adore our Father as we hallow His name; to thank Him for Who He is, and what He means to us, and all that He’s done for us; to recognize, confess and agree with Him that our sins are sins, and ask for His mercy and forgiveness; to surrender our lives to Him.

Then, when we’ve taken care of these things daily in our prayers, we’re taught we can and should ask for what we need, so that God may choose to release His power and blessing through our prayers.

We’re also taught to pray for others, to be intercessors. In His model prayer, Jesus didn’t teach us to pray, "my Father," but "our Father." [Matthew 6:9] He didn’t say to ask for "my daily bread," but "our daily bread." [Matthew 6:11] We’re taught to pray "always for all of the saints" [Ephesians 6:18] and to intercede "for everyone" [1 Tim 2:1].

Do you think the world would be different if the Lord hadn’t raised up powerful intercessors throughout history? Abraham, Moses, Elijah, Ezra, Nehemiah, Isaiah, Daniel, Paul--and even Jesus? Why would God bother to call them to intercede, if He weren’t choosing to use their prayers to release His power in the world?

Are we as available to pray as God wants us to be, needs us to be, for His work in the lives of others?

Pray with me now -- Father, please don’t allow someone else to miss Your presence, power and provision because we fail to pray. Strengthen our resolve. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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