The Difference Between Prayer and Intercession
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The Difference Between Prayer and Intercession
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Mankind has always reached out to God. Regardless of the continent they lived on. Regardless of age or even beliefs, there are historic accounts of people reaching out to God. It’s as if God has hardwired us to communicate with Him. A recent Gallup poll in the United States indicated over 70% of Americans pray on a regular basis. Think a moment of the complexity of billions of people over thousands of years praying to God. Imagine those prayers that have ascended to a holy God. It’s really an incredible concept that God created this communication process of prayer. This is a God who is not only willing, but desires, to hear and listen to us at any given time. A special formula is not needed. We don’t have to prostrate or position ourselves in a certain way. All we need is to talk to God and be honest with Him.
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When you talk about prayer and intercession, it’s easy to believe they are lumped together in one category. People often ask me, “What is the difference in prayer and intercession?” I’d like to make the distinction that both are good. Both are good but they are different. To give the simple answer, prayer is when you come before God with the needs that are on your heart. Of course, we need to bring our needs to God – He expects us to.
Intercession is when you stand between God and someone or something. At Intercessors for America, we stand between God and the people and problems of the United States. We stand in the gap for politicians and pray for godly leaders. That’s the distinction. We should pray to God, yet at times we need to stand between. Ezekiel 22:30 says, “So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one.” Praying to God is imperative. However, will we, when prompted by God, go beyond simple prayer and make a wall, and stand in the gap for our nation and its leaders?
Keys to Effective Intercession
I believe there are two key aspects of effective intercession. The first one is praying in community. What I mean by that is praying with other likeminded Christians. We have found from the hundreds of thousands of intercessors that we work with on a weekly basis, many of them feel lonely and discouraged. Ecclesiastes 4:9-20 tells us, “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion.”
To remain encouraged, especially when you are not seeing results, it is best to pray in a community. When one becomes discouraged or feels isolated, another will pick them up and encourage them to press on.
The second key to be successful in our intercessory prayer life is to rely on the promises of God. God has promises throughout scripture for us. We do not have to wonder what God’s will is for our nation or our leaders. God has made it plain in His Word that he desires godly leadership. When we are fully persuaded of the promise of God we can pray with confidence — knowing God hears us, and we are declaring His will in the earth. One thing I have noticed the older I get in life, the fewer words I use in prayer. I spend more time in silence before the Lord, listening. I have found that I don’t hear the audible voice of God, but I sense impressions from Him. I feel the Holy Spirit touches my spirit and leads me and guides me in the way I should intercede. He leads me to the right scriptures and empowers me to intercede effectively. Listening is a big part of intercession. We must hear the heart of God and pray accordingly. Being still before the Lord is imperative. Could it be that the lost art of prayer and intercession has a great deal to do with being still before the Lord? I believe so.
Samuel Adams famously said, “It does not take a majority to prevail… but rather an irate, tireless minority, keen on setting brushfires of freedom in the minds of men.” And one of the founders of Intercessors for America, Derek Prince, said that history belongs to the intercessors. It may be a minority of people earnestly praying for the nation, but this tireless minority are setting brushfires of freedom and impacting history. Over the past few years, we have witnessed supernatural growth in the numbers of people who are passionate to pray for this nation. There are hundreds of thousands of individuals and thousands of groups across the nation praying and crying out to God. I am convinced that if God is putting this desire to pray on people’s hearts, He is not done with our nation.
I believe the days ahead will be nothing like the days of the past. In fact, the coming days could be more difficult than anything we have seen in the past. It is critical the Church understands that it is a time for prayer and intercession.
Share this article to mobilize the church in prayer and intercession.
(Dave Kubal is the President/CEO of IFA. Photo Credit: Dee from ภาพของSakorn Sukkasemsakorn via Canva Pro)
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Comments
Well stated.
Previously it has been implied that we could redirect Gods will.
Amen Lord, this country is in and has been in great need of you through chaotic times and completely neglecting you through the good times! It’s all about being humble and committing our hearts, minds and souls in repentance!
Oh that Sam Adams.. what a great Patriot. I believe he’s the one that read through the Bible and decided that the Lord wanted us to be free. Thank you Dave for this article.
I always look forward to hearing your presentations on issues.
I am one that has struggled greatly with isolation and discouragement but I have not given up although I will confess that the degree of intensity of my efforts have decided noticeably. I am going to try another church yet again this Wednesday night in my community that is primarily a Spanish speaking church but it’s bilingual-, Due to amazing reports of signs and wonders I have heard of there.
In the middle of the night I was thinking….. everyone keeps saying it is going to get bad. There are only a handful of men creating all this chaos … food shortages gas prices etc. etc. etc. but. There are multitudes of us. Why can’t we overtake and move them out ? . I often think of revolution times… they would have raided the white house and taken back the country. I am not for violence, but don’t t understand why the few are ruining the lives of our country and for that matter, the world.
Until they let 10 million in..at the previously known as a border point.Also there are about a few hundred for few thousand globalist types that are saying worshipers that have gotten control of huge corporations through media and other influences mainly satanic so it is more than just a small handful of people we’re up against. But God is on our our side and that is how we will prevail
Typo..
The phrase “saying worshipers”, should be .. “Satanists”
Let’s continue to lift up the IDF and Israel. We lift Israel and the IDF to You Lord Jesus. Protect them, help them, give them direction and wisdom. Father, soften the hardened hearts towards you so they may hear Your voice and leadership. Most of all, that in the midst of this, those who do not know You as King of kings and Lord of lords, may they find You in the midst of this horrific suffering, and lean on Your unfailing comfort and love. May they have an Holy Spirit encounter with You, lives transformed forever, including those who are coming against Israel. That they will have such an encounter that they would release the hostages and give up information to help end this all. I pray this in Jesus name. Amen 🙏🏽
I have been praying thru this report from IFA for months now: ‘FACES OF WAR IN ISRAEL, AN IFA SPECIAL REPORT PRAYER GUIDE. Yesterday I went thru & wrote “RELEASED” by four of the names of hostages on that list: Noa Argamani, age 25; Almog Meir Jan, age 21; Andrey Kezlov, age 27; Shoomi Ziv, age 40! Can U image the elation of these four hostages today after 8 months of captivity by Hamas! There are 116 hostages still in the Gaza Strip. We are not done praying! However, think of the encouragement this brings to those still in captivity! God is on the move! We can envision ourselves standing on the wall, shields locked together in prayer which makes for an impenitrable force! Ezekiel 22:30 I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found no one.” Prayer: “God, we are frail & human, like sheep, not good at defending ourselves. If we stick together & listen to the voice of the Shepherd we have a chance! WE ARE STANDING BEFORE YOU IN THE GAP ON THE WALL. WE IMPLORE YOU NOT TO DESTROY AMERICA OR ISRAEL We claim the shed blood of Messiah Jesus over our two nations. There is power, wonder working power in the blood of Jesus. Thank You for your sustaining grace! In Jesus name, Amen.”
Thank you your thoroughness..I am encouraged- and prayed through your prayer
Father God, I thank You for Intercessors of America. I pray Lord that You continue to pour out Your infinite, amazing, supernatural wisdom upon all who have their hands, their hearts, in this group. I pray that You continue to cover and protect us all. Continue to give us the strength Lord Jesus Christ, to fervently intercede and continue to seek Your face, and what is on Your heart. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.
I believe we all need to become more familiar with GOD as our FATHER.
HE IS OUR FATHER!
Luke 11:2-4: “When you pray, say, ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one'”
What child needs to beg their FATHER to do what is right?
What child needs to implore his FATHER to help him/her do what is right?
What FATHER makes a child beg to be heard?
OUR FATHER, WHICH ART IN HEAVEN, HALLOWED BE THY NAME, THY KINGDOM COME, THY WILL BE DONE ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN . . . . .
O, FATHER GOD, Open our eyes to see Your Glorious Majesty, Your loving kindness, Your longing for us to come close to YOU, to sense YOUR nearness and YOUR longing for us to really know YOU, to feel Your embrace just as Your wonderful Son the LORD JESUS CHRIST embraced the little children on earth, LORD we ask for your embrace for us and for all who need to know your nearness. in Jesus Name, Amen. i
When People PRAY
GOD makes a WAY.
When folks BELIEVE
GOD parts the SEA.
On our knees, WE
are getting stronger
everyday . . . .
When People PRAY,
GOD makes a WAY.
FATHER, THANK YOU for IFA, YOUR Ekklesia and for answers to our prayers. THANK YOU for IDF rescuing 4 LIVE Captives this morning from 2 separate buildings. Also, for IDF finding dozen dead, killed on Oct7, recently in Rafa.
We decree that Obiden administration would stop hindering what YOU are doing for Israeli families IN YESHUA’S HOLY NAME AMEN AMEN
Yes, this is true…a d in recent things I have seen myself, prayers for America to turn back to the Lord I have seen such proof that He has heard us intercede for others and other nations…this only encourages us prayer warriors to continue and be still to know how to continue as He will lead us. Prayer and time in listening is so wonderful…it makes one more prayerful and more attentive to His voice,silent or audible. We need ,must,continue forever…it is what we are told to do. Hallelujah,Praise to the Glory of Our Lord…without ceasing.
I love Intercessors for America and being one of many that feel the same. God is Listening,of this I have no doubt. God Bless to All
Rees Howells said identification and agony and loss of words are the marks of intercession.
comforted by this message. thank you
Thanks so much Mr Dave . Your scripture reminder of Ezekiel 22 says it all … “build a wall and stand in the gap”… !!! This definitely describes something much much more than a conversation or plea.
I would like to hear more from you regarding “building a wall “as described in this verse.
Hallelujah and Amen in our savior Jesus name!!!
“Fully Persuaded”
Amen!
Good morning: Thank you for clarifying this difference.
If I understand correctly, Intercession always involves being still and listening to the Holy Spirit about matters of others in prayer, while prayer is bringing our needs to God.
Intercession always involves prayer; but prayer is not always intercession. Right?
What came to mind as I was reading:
He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.””
Psalms 46:10
“‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’”
Jeremiah 33:3 NIV
“Who is this that obscures my plans with words without knowledge?”
Job 38:2 NIV
“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. James 4:8 ESV
“ Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin, to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel’s hand. Zechariah 4:10 NLT
“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”
Micah 6:8 NIV
So too at the present time there is a remnant (a small believing minority) selected (chosen) by grace — by God’s unmerited favor and graciousness. Romans 11:5 Amplified
God, You are so good to me.
In Jesus Name. Amen.
I am troubled at times by some of the posts I see here. We are supposed to be a network of Christians praying for this country and each other. Yet so many times instead of being confident and knowledgeable about God’s word and his promises, and lifting each other up with those, we almost sound defeated. Do we KNOW and TRUST God? Then lets act like it. Lets remember scriptures like Ephesians 3:20 Now unto him who is able to do exceeding and abundantly above all we think or ask according to the POWER that worketh within us. (Lets proclaim his power and have it within us) Lets remember when things “seem” a certain way 2 Corinthians 4:7-9 But we have this TREASURE in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the POWER may be of GOD, and not of us. We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but NOT forsaken, cast down but not destroyed. Lets start lifting him up in praise because he is WORTHY. Lets declare the greatness of the Lord lest the rocks cry out. (Psalms 145:3 Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised: his greatness is unsearchable. Luke 19:40 I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.) Lets act like David and not only dance before him with abandon but write his word on our hearts so we might not sin against him (Psalms 119:11) Lets declare Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for GOOD and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. Lets not tire in Thanking him for that and standing on his word.
Thank you for your reminder and encouraging words🙏😊
Many on here are new to intercession. It takes time to train up new intercessors to have this confidence in the word and interceding for others. Let us be patient. Do not be troubled. We cast that over to the Lord Jesus.