I Prayed have prayed
Father, we pray that You would strengthen us in our intercession. Help us to be in constant communion with You just as Your son is, and surround us with people who need our prayers.

Earlier this month, the Lord laid the Intercessors on my heart to pray for those needing hope and encouragement. After reading so many of the comments, I noticed similar themes of depression and real struggles that many of you are facing. I decided to write an article about the Intercessor Jesus Christ to show everyone who reads this no matter what you are facing, you are not alone.

Join others crying out to the Lord day and night

For we do not have a High Priest Who is unable to understand and sympathize and have a shared feeling with our weaknesses and infirmities and liability to the assaults of temptation, but One Who has been tempted in every respect as we are, yet without sinning. (Heb. 4:15 AMPC)

Have you wept over your city or nation? Jesus did. (Lk. 19:41-44)

Have you ever felt angry over sin and injustice? Jesus did. (Mt. 21:12,13)

Have you ever felt frustrated? Jesus did. (Mk. 8:11,12)

Have you felt sorrow or grief? Jesus did. (Is. 53:3a)

Have you felt the painful sting of rejection from those you love? Jesus did. (Is. 53.3b)

Jesus Understands You

Jesus not only understands your weakness, but he sympathizes with you. This is something Old Testament high priests could never do, but Jesus can. 

Jesus was fully God and man while He was on earth. Several translations say he was touched by our infirmities. This means he shared our feelings of frailty, weakness, even illness. He felt the same emotions we do. 

Although we know Jesus as the Lion of Judah and victorious one, He was also called the man of sorrows in Isaiah 53.  He was acquainted with grief, or simplified he was familiar with it. There is nothing we feel or walk through that Jesus didn’t. He was even tempted, just like we are, except he remained sinless. This is why he is the Great High Priest, or perfect Intercessor.

Jesus Is Praying For You 

The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, but he (Jesus) holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. (Heb. 7:24,25 ESV)

Yes, you read that right. Jesus Christ is praying for you. Intercession is a daunting task at times. We feel burdened for the lost. We feel grief over injustice. We labor long in prayer. In the spirit we are on the front lines praying for major issues, all while fighting private battles for ourselves and loved ones too. When we co-labor with Him in prayer, we become burden bearers. We feel the weightiness of our prayer assignments. It can be weary at times. Jesus understands because he bore our sins and burdens. Because he understands, he lives to intercede for us. 

Jesus is Your Defender

Another word for Intercessor is a go between, mediator, and advocate to name a few. 

I will focus on the Intercessor/advocate connection. When we hear advocate, normally we would think of a lawyer or counselor, someone who comes to our defense. This embodies who Jesus the Intercessor is.

We need an advocate, because the Bible warns us that there is an “accuser of the brothers” [Satan] who accuses God’s people day and night. (Rev. 12:9) 

Satan’s end game involves wearing down the saints until we give up or give in. (Dan. 7:25)

But somebody is praying for you and that somebody is Jesus Christ. He comes to our defense. He pleads our case by reminding God of His great sacrifice for mankind.

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Cor. 5:21)

God no longer sees you as who you were. That person was crucified with Christ. He now sees you as righteous. 

Jesus will never plead the fifth on your behalf, because he pleads his blood. 

We are new creations in Christ. The old has gone, the new has come. (2 Cor. 5:17)

Intercession Lessons from Jesus 

In over 35 instances in the four gospels, we read of Jesus praying. Sometimes he would pray for his disciples. He went about praying for and healing the sick, and he blessed the children too. 

There were also many times Jesus spent time alone. He modeled a lifestyle of prayer. He often taught his disciples about it. Jesus was always in prayer mode and ready. I believe this is why His ministry was so effective. It was saturated in prayers.

Jesus understood that prayer is our lifeline. It’s so much more than petitions and supplications, though those are important. It is your direct line to communion with God. It’s your invitation to enter the veil into the secret place with God and enter His rest. The secret place is where we find comfort, protection, and everything we will ever need. 

Intercessors Need Other Intercessors

 Jesus invited Peter, James, & John to watch and pray with Him in Gethsemane (Mk. 14) . We know that they could not stay awake. Though Jesus prayed alone at times, he often invited his disciples with Him. Jesus had a small group of close followers. Even Jesus needed fellowship.

Intercession can feel very lonely at times. We already know that Jesus is praying for us. We Intercessors also need friends, or community. If Jesus had his own close friends (Mary, Marta, & Lazarus) and disciples, we can have friends too. If we didn’t need other Intercessors, why would Jesus live to make intercession for us?

Join others crying out to the Lord day and night

We can all start somewhere

Community is crucial for all believers. If you do not have a home church do not feel bad or guilty. Some people have serious health issues or circumstances that prevent people from connecting with others or getting to church. 

I once interviewed a mature Intercessor named Nancy. During Covid when churches were shut down, she held phone calls with 4 friends (some in different states) and prayed together. They saw answers to prayer and miracles through phone agreement. Maybe this is something you can do.

IFA has worked and is still working to strengthen the Intercessor community. There are so many ways you can get involved.  I have seen the fruit with my own eyes. In my last article many Intercessors poured their hearts out sharing their struggles. I was moved as I saw engagement in the conversations. People who have never met before were praying for and encouraging one another in the comments. It was a beautiful sight. Find out what’s happening now by checking out IFA’s Community Page.

Intercessors, let’s continue to keep praying. Your ministry of prayer is coveted, and is crucial to see God’s work done in America and the nations.

How did this article speak to you? Share your thoughts and prayers in the comments.

Author Gloria Robles is a passionate intercessor with a prophetic voice for today. For more from Gloria, go to Spotify or Anchor to listen to her podcast Something To Share. Photo Credit: Getty Images.

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Thomas j meyer
May 16, 2022

AWSOME, strengthens me to keep praying, but I’m amazed of how this relates truth to me as I intercede, thank u all for IFA pray.

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Debbie Wolfe
May 16, 2022

Jesus is still on the throne today and is listening to our prayers. The Holy Spirit is our helper.

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TRUST in JESUS!!
May 14, 2022

This was wonderful, THANK YOU!! It’s so comforting to KNOW that Jesus IS praying for ME ALL the time! I say yes to whatever He says I need! AMEN and HALLELUYAH!

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Vicki
May 13, 2022

Thank you for saying that about not having a home church. Some people make you feel bad about that. IFA has helped me be able to come together with other believers and pray with them. I’m hoping my state will have a state prayer group soon.

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Toni Kushner
May 12, 2022

Your words are very encouraging and these are the many things the Holy Spirit has helped me to teach in my Church. It has been so important to stay focused on the call to be a “Gap Stander”and not be discouraged by results or numbers. I have been led to do teaching on The Precious Blood, as I believe this and the WORD of God are two most powerful weapons of warfare we possess. For it is the Word of our testimony and the Blood of the Lamb that brings victory to all. Last night as I went to my class I could get so discouraged with the turnout for I am concerned that the message of the BLOOD will be lost to our young and new Christians. Your message reminds me to stay focused on Jesus and how the Holy Spirit will use for His Glory to raise up a remnant of people who will proclaim and speak through the word of their testimony and the Blood of the Lamb the victory every believer can have through the power of these mighty weapons of warfare He has given us. May the Intercessors stand and “never be silent until the walls of Jerusalem are rebuilt”, this is our call, this is our mission and may we be faithful to the end for His Glory.

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Brittany Havens
May 12, 2022

I don’t think the Bible actually says Jesus was sick like us. But it is a possibility.

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Thank you for your encouraging words on keeping up in our prayer life!!
May 12, 2022

Thank you for that word on intercessors! I laid eggs group on Wednesday nights at our church. I see how Satan tries to attack and keep us from getting together but we are determined to be there no matter how tired how busy how whatever! We leave there refreshed because we have got to meet with our great intercessor Jesus Christ.We are so blessed to be there and pray for everyone in our church who has a need. Our pastors our worship team are youth etc. Thank you for your encouraging words on keeping up in our prayer life!

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Nancy Berkey
May 12, 2022

Please pray for me for healing of a broken foot which happened on April 22. I am now in a walking boot which helps me get around. I go for an xray on June 8. Please pray for me for a good report that the bone is healed, there are no others fractures and thzt I won’t need surgery,

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Maynard Beck Sr.
May 12, 2022

As I read through the comments to your previous article, I was stricken by the number of people with pain from health issues and the beautiful prayers. My wife has had a great deal of pain from autoimmune disease for many years. It has been diagnosed as RA. One of the things that brought some relief was finding out that she had vitamin D deficiency. This requires getting specifically tested for the deficiency. Recently she also started getting infusions for Remicade and it was the 1st time she had a good night’s sleep in 25 years. I thought this info might help some of the other intersessors.
Thanks for another wonderful article – God Bless

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    Jennifer Batchelor
    June 6, 2022

    Praise God for this relief! Thank you for sharing.

Linda Odegaard Rice
May 12, 2022

We have competing prophesies out there or at least they appear that way on the surface. I think our need to know fuels most of our prayer fatigue. Let’s pray and leave the results to Jesus. He is faithful.

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    Roxanne Rice
    May 12, 2022

    Excellent point, Linda! For quite a while I felt I had to keep up with everything in the news to be an effective and faithful prayer warrior. I was exhausted all the time. When I cut way back on the news I was watching or reading, even faith-based news sources, my anxiety and depression greatly improved, and my prayers became more focused and even enjoyable. I had the energy to linger over a situation (like the Supreme Court Justices being harassed), and pray with love and thoughtfulness. Much more effective, I’m sure!

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Allena Jordan
May 12, 2022

Lord, keep us alert, just like the five wise virgins. They kept their oil flasks full and ready. Oh, Lord, we call on You for renewing of our strength, renewing and refilling of Holy Spirit. Show us how to abide in You better than we do. Grant us Your wisdom and mercy in these dark days.
Parable of Ten Virgins
25 “Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins, who took their lamps and went to [a]meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish [thoughtless, silly, and careless], and five were wise [far-sighted, practical, and sensible]. 3 For when the foolish took their lamps, they did not take any [extra] oil with them, 4 but the wise took flasks of oil along with their lamps. 5 Now while the bridegroom was delayed, they all began to nod off, and they fell asleep. 6 But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Look! The bridegroom [is coming]! Go out to meet him.’ 7 Then all those virgins got up and put their own lamps in order [trimmed the wicks and added oil and lit them]. 8 But the foolish virgins said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, because our lamps are going out.’ 9 But the wise replied, ‘No, otherwise there will not be enough for us and for you, too; go instead to the dealers and buy oil for yourselves.’ 10 But while they were going away to buy oil, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast; and the door was shut and locked. 11 Later the others also came, and said, ‘Lord, Lord, open [the door] for us.’ 12 But He replied, ‘I assure you and most solemnly say to you, I do not know you [we have no relationship].’ 13 Therefore, be on the alert [be prepared and ready], for you do not know the day nor the hour [when the Son of Man will come].

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Marsha Bashor
May 12, 2022

Thank you Jesus. I personally need you to pray for me.✝️

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Linda
May 12, 2022

Thank you for such an encouraging word, it truly blessed me. Thank you Lord for always keeping us covered by your feathers and under your wings giving us refuge (Ps. 91:4)

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Marsha Carol Watson Gandy
May 12, 2022

Yes, LORD, Yes in the precious and holy name of my Savior and my LORD, JESUS CHRIST. Amen

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Janet Drawhorn
May 12, 2022

This touched my ❤

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Judith A. Loy
May 12, 2022

Encouraging & uplifting – thank you for sharing!!! Continued Blessings & Peace!!!!

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