Since the beginning of my journey with God, when I first gave my life to Jesus, I could never quite grasp that “God was looking for men to stand in the gap.” (Ezek 22:30) Even now it is hard to think that the Creator of heaven and earth would need to look for anything, but He did and still does.

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His Ways Are Higher

In the Bible, intercession plays a part in God’s secret plan for something greater. Hannah, for example, was a barren woman who cried out to God with tears and supplication. All she wanted was a son, and God gave her a son. 

Hannah was in deep anguish, crying bitterly as she prayed to the Lord.  And she made this vow: “O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, if you will look upon my sorrow and answer my prayer and give me a son, then I will give him back to you. He will be yours for his entire lifetime, and as a sign that he has been dedicated to the Lord, his hair will never be cut. (1 Sam 1:10,11)

Desperation drove Hannah’s intercession. She promised to give this son back to the Lord if He answered.While many who knew Hannah was barren saw a miracle, God had a plan for this son. Hannah and Elkanah gave their son Samuel to serve the Lord just as she promised. Hannah’s intercession birthed a secret weapon.

Samuel was a part of God’s plan to expose a corrupt priesthood, so a godly one could be restored. Samuel was a part of God’s plan to restore the prophetic word of the Lord that had become uncommon. At the end of Judges we read, all the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes (Jdgs 21:21). At the same time, the Bible tells us that the word of the Lord was rare and not many visions came from the Lord (1 Sam 3:1).

That is until Samuel was born. As a boy he ministered to the Lord. He received visions and heard from the Lord. The Bible tells us the Lord was with Samuel as he grew.

The LORD was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of Samuel’s words fall to the ground. And all Israel, from Dan in the north to Beersheba in the south, knew that Samuel was confirmed as a prophet of the LORD. (1 Sam 3:19,20)

Although Samuel was a prophet, priest, and temporary judge, he was an Intercessor too. Samuel would often pray for God’s people, and wept before the Lord with prayer when King Saul deliberately disobeyed the Lord. 

I believe that, while Samuel was interceding for Saul, God was looking for and found a man after his own heart, King David, who also interceded for the nation many times. 

Intercessors, God’s secret weapons. 

Many know of Charles G. Finney’s exploits in the Second Great Awakening. This evangelist/revivalist work resulted in hundreds of thousands of conversions. 

It was stated that Charles Finney carried such a strong anointing that, while meeting in Utica, NY, he visited a large factory. Workers would break down and weep under the conviction of the Holy Spirit while Charles Finney led them to Christ.

Charles Finney was a man of prayer, but he had two companions who were his Intercessors, and who are also responsible for the fruit of revival as well.

Daniel Nash, lovingly known as Father Nash, would travel ahead of Finney where he would preach and gather a few people to pray before the meetings. Whether it was hours, days, or weeks, he would not quit until he felt there had been a breakthrough. 

Abel Clary, friend of Charles Finney, was also licensed to minister. He had such an immense burden to pray that he didn’t preach as much as Finney, but he travailed long in prayer, so much so that at times he would be unable to stand.

Together, Clary and Nash with a few others would travel together and pray for revival. They prayed for a mighty move of the power and presence of God in the community. They would last days, prostrate before the Lord with fasting, prayer, and groaning. Upon seeing the fruits of their prayers, Charles Finney would begin to ask for their prayers personally before his meetings. God honored their labor in prayer with the Second Great Awakening. 

These precious Intercessors were not only Charles Finney’s secret weapons, they were the Lord’s as well.

A similar story involves the Smith sisters. After being overwhelmed by the indifference creeping in the church, and worldliness of the younger generation, they knew praying for revival was their only hope. Peggy was blind, Christine was hunched over from crippling arthritis. They could not attend church, so they would meet and pray in their cottage for hours. The Lord answered their prayers in the form of Rev. Duncan Campbell, the man who would lead the Hebrides Revival.  These two unlikely women were God’s secret weapons.

Where are the Intercessors?

Those who will stand in the gap for the lost and nations who deserve God’s judgment. 

Those who will cry mercy, before crying judgment.

Those who will be obedient even when we do not understand.

Those who will answer the call to a lifetime of prayer, even when it appears fruitless at times. 

Those who can prevail in prayer. 

God is still looking for Intercessors.

Lord, 

I pray for every Intercessor who reads this. I pray for those who have the burden to pray but never understood the call to intercession.  Pour out your grace on these who will say yes to a lifetime of prayer for the first time.  

I pray for all the Intercessors who have battled long like Moses when he could no longer hold up his arms. Send them Intercessors who lift their arms up when they grow weary. I pray, oh breath of God, give them a second wind. 

Lord God, Thank you for the power that’s available when your people pray and the exponential power when we join together and pray. We want to see your kingdom come, we want to see your will done on Earth as it is in heaven. 

 More than anything else, Give us a spirit of prayer in Jesus name. Amen

Are you interceding for America? Share this article to encourage other believers to pray in intercession.

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: Photo by Jametlene Reskp on Unsplash.