IntercessionSample

The Heart of an Intercessor

Jesus once told His disciples that “men ought always to pray and not to faint” (Luke 18:1). Prayer is the cure for fainting hearts. When prayer stops, strength fades.

Jesus never asked us to do what He Himself did not practice. His entire life was anchored in prayer, deep, consistent, and heartfelt. But at the center, His prayer life was deeply invested in intercession — praying for others.

Intercession means standing in the gap on behalf of someone else, asking God for mercy, help, or a breakthrough. It’s the purest expression of love in prayer.

We see this heart in Jesus’ prayer for Peter:

“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you like wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail.”
(Luke 22:31–32)

Instead of judging Peter’s weakness, Jesus prayed for him. That’s what love does: it prays instead of condemning.

True intercession begins when we see people the way God sees them, not as problems, but as those who are worth standing for in prayer. Like Jesus, we can learn to pray before we speak, to intercede before we act, and to love enough to pray for others even when they don’t ask.

Bible Reading: Luke 22:31–32; John 17:9–21
Reflection Question:

• Who has God placed on your heart to pray for today?
• How can you respond like Jesus instead of reacting in criticism or worry?