Welcome to day 9 of our 40 day challenge, and day four on the practice of Prayer!

(You can catch up on Day 1, Day 2 , Day 3, Day 4, Day 5, Day 6, Day 7, and Day 8 if you missed them)

Today we’re focusing on intercession.

Intercession

Intercessory prayer is what most people think of when they talk about prayer. Intercession is us working with God to bring about His purposes. Prayer is not us trying to convince God to do something. It is us working with Him to bring about His will. Because of Jesus, He shares His power with us and invites us to be actively involved.

⁵ Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; ⁶ a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.’ ⁷ And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’ ⁸ I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity he will surely get up and give you as much as you need.

⁹ “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. ¹⁰ For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

¹¹ “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead?¹² Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? ¹³ If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” Luke 11:5-12

I have always loved the phrase, shameless audacity in verse 8. Jesus encourages us to ask with shameless audacity to our Father who is so Good.

Prayer changes us and the world around us. God wants (requires) His children to be actively involved in building His Kingdom. He doesn’t need our help. But He wants it, He requires it, and we need the experience, the blessing, and the growth that comes from this collaboration. And He is a good Father who wants you to grow and mature in Christ. He wants us to work together. God didn’t create us and save us to do it all Himself. What an amazing privilege to be included! Your prayers matter. Prayer makes a difference in the Kingdom of God and in your life. 

What can you ask for?

I don’t believe there is anything too big or too small to pray about. Our God is a good Father, and He loves talking about your day and delighting you! He cares about even the most minor details. He has infinite capacity, and you aren’t taking away His time or energy or power for other “more important” things by asking for a parking spot or something small. I even encourage praying these prayers to people who are new to asking, and especially listening, to the Lord in prayer. It’s often easier in the beginning to have faith and to hear the Lord’s guidance on small things that aren’t filled with pressure.

I encourage you to work out your listening muscles in prayer. Your intercession will be greatly improved by hearing God. Prayer is not talking at God and then going about your day. Make time in each prayer time to listen for any prompting from the Lord. As with all the practices, the more you do them, the better you get at doing them.

Reflection for prayer and/or journaling:

Think through the answered prayer you’ve experienced. Choose one, write it in your journal, and talk to the Lord about it. Thank Him for His work in your life.

Action steps:

You may have a prayer list a mile long already. But for this next week, ask the Lord to tell you something He wants you to pray for. And then spend some time listening. If you don’t sense an answer to this question during that prayer session, keep the question in your heart as you go about your day. Keep going each prayer time until you sense a prompting. Then, write it down and ask and keep asking with shameless audacity. God knows your heart, and He knows what you need.

Pray together:

Father, we ask you to give each person something specific to pray for in shameless audacity. Built the faith of each person here, and move mightily in their lives. Let these 40 days be forever life-changing for each person. You know our hearts and you know our needs. Let the work of the Holy Spirit be evident in us, as we practice the things Jesus did on earth. Provide for each person here abundantly, with the time, strength, power, and material blessings they need to do your will in their lives. In the name of Jesus we pray together. Amen

♥ Samantha