GOD'S VOICE: Intercessory Prayer

Intercession is defined as "entreaty in favor of another, especially a prayer or petition to God in behalf of another."  Because YWAM believes that prayer is two-way communication (see my previous blog on POWER OF PRAYER), we enjoy praying together in a way in which we ask God to guide us.

There are no rules to intercessory prayer.  However, Joy Dawson compiled some wonderful principles for effective intercession here.  These are the points we consider before we enter into prayer as a DTS school, which we will be doing about two times a week.

Today, we participated intercessory prayer on behalf of our school as a whole.  We first spent time praising God, praying for protection, confessing our sins, etc.  Then, we asked God to tell us what we should pray for on our school's behalf.  Some of us received images, scripture, encouragement, or correction.  In the end, though, we saw some beautiful patterns of an over-arching message.

God revealed to us that we needed to pray that he would be our center, that we would focus on his kingdom, and that we would die to our selves, even in our free time. He showed us we needed to be careful how we talked and to only speak life, walking in the Spirit and in love.  He showed us that by our love others would come to enter into the kingdom.

The absolute best part of today's intercession, however, was when one of our classmates named Hugo felt compelled to share.  While everyone else was sharing images, comfort, and correction that they believed was coming straight from God, he raised his hand and asked to share a testimony!  Our leader said, "Sure, you can if you feel like God is leading you at this moment."  Hugo stood in front of us and shared his story: He had met a man in Tijuana during ministry (I believe it was in the Red Light District).  The man was incredibly poor and although they didn't see each other often, they began to build a wonderful relationship over the phone.  

One day, Hugo felt like God was telling him to give the man $100.  As a missionary completing a Discipleship Training School, Hugo was praying and trying to move money around so that he could be obedient to what God was telling him.  

The next day (even though he told not a single soul about this!), he found a letter on his bed.  It had $200 in it anonymously from someone.  He was so relieved.  He was able to bless his friend with $100 and for his obedience, God blessed him with $100, too!

Not only was this story incredibly encouraging to all of this, but it was directly in response to another student's prayer just that morning!  Courtney had listened while a Titus Project student asked for money for a mission trip she will be leaving for tomorrow.  After praying about it, Courtney felt very strongly that she should give the Titus Project student exactly $100.  She couldn't believe that God was asking that of her, because she doesn't have a lot of funds herself.  In fact, she is in the process of fundraising for her outreach!  As she prayed during intercession, she said in her heart, "God if you really want me to give that Titus Project student the money, you need to make someone talk about $100 during the sharing time!"  She was flabbergasted when it actually happened!

I absolutely loved this time today and hope that I will be able to continue to practice this type of prayer with other believers.  God is so incredible with how faithfully he answers us when we ask for him to show himself.  God is so good.