[do_widget id=polylang-2]

“For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of His Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers” (Romans 1:9).

 

Recently, while sorting through our family members’ clothing and preparing for the transition from winter to spring and summer, I came across two small T-shirts with these words printed on the front: “My mom prays for me”. They were given to our two boys several years ago, and I never had the heart to give them away. They are a precious reminder of the fact that as mothers, we earnestly pray for our children. In fact, we tend to pray more fervently and more frequently for the ones who are close to us, especially when there is a need. Intercession, or intervening for another, happens when we willingly put ourselves in someone else’s place and pray on their behalf. Interceding in prayer for someone far away or for someone we don’t know may not always seem natural to us at first, but a heart and readiness to pray for our own children, whether natural or spiritual, is something we are often more ready to do.

“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” (Ezekiel 22:30).

God is searching for anyone who is willing to intercede – to stand in the gap before Him – on behalf of others. We live in a world in desperate need of God. Our first priority is to pray for and meet the needs of our own children, who have been given to us. But it doesn’t stop there. A gate into intercessory prayer is to see any person we are praying for as if they were our own child, sister or brother, dear parent or closest friend. We need to be willing to care about the salvation of others, as we would care for our own family members.

Intercessory prayer requires a true humbling of the heart. We don’t intercede for other people because they are worthy of it, or because there is some gain in it for us. Moses interceded over and over again for people who rebelled against God and were given over to their own selfish ways. Many people we pray for may not know exactly what they need, or how to get out of their mess. They need our help.

As women of God, we need to rise and intercede on behalf of our neighborhoods, our cities and our nations. Will you answer the call?

 

BY INGUNN TURNER

Ingunn Bakke Turner was born and raised in Norway. Nate and Ingunn Turner are UPCI missionaries to Estonia and pastor in the capital city of Tallinn. 

Reposted with permission from Ladies Prayer International

1 Comment

  1. I would love to stand in the gap and intercede for others. I pray for my children and friend, Israel, Jerusalem and members of my church and surrounding communities, but, I feel there should be more to pray for. I am 5 years old in the LORD, and there is still so much more to learn. Thank you for this site, I will try to learn all I can.