Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working (James 5:16).

This familiar passage talks about righteous prayers, but it is only in the context of healthy relationships that those prayers have effect. It is critical that intercessors have a proper heart attitude towards others – especially those in authority – if we want to pray effectively for our leaders. Any negative experiences from the past must be dealt with if there is to be any oneness of heart and corporate impact in the spirit.

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I had to deal with some of my own attitudes towards those in authority early on in my journey as an intercessor. As the Holy Spirit would give me prophetic insights for the church, I sought validation and approval from my church leaders. When I felt they weren’t listening or responding as quickly as I thought they should, I decided they must not be as spiritually in tune as I was. I began to look elsewhere for the affirmation I desired.

The sense of power and authority I gained from Spirit-inspired intercession was addicting. Because I felt that authorities in the natural would not listen to me, I seized the chance to be heard by those in the heavens. I wanted to be recognized, and when I couldn’t get it from the pulpit, I pursued it in the prayer room. Because I sought validation and approval more than honoring my spiritual leaders, my intercession became a noisy gong and a clanging cymbal.

The adversary recognizes illegitimate authority and will disqualify our prayers if we are not healed and set free from any resentment or criticism towards our leaders. When I realized what had happened, I repented for my underlying motivation and lay down my sense of entitlement. I made relationship priority over the latest word I received and determined to do more listening than reporting. I grew to understand that it wasn’t my spiritual insight or recognition in the natural that brought breakthrough, but my right standing with the Lord and with others that brought heaven’s favor and increase.

…God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6).

If we want to see godly authority demonstrated in the Church, we must learn to walk together in mutual submission and lay down our right to be right. Even when confronting differences of perspective or opinion, we can approach it with right attitudes that honor God and one another. God’s Kingdom works through relationship and His desire is for us to walk and work together towards a unity of heart and oneness of spirit. That will take work and it will require dying to self – for everyone involved.

As we pray for those God has placed in authority, He has promised to deal with them accordingly. Our job is to keep our hearts clean, our mouths pure, and our relationships healthy. It will be from that posture that our prayers will be heard and our intercession will be powerful and effective.

Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you. (Hebrews 13:17)