Intercessory Prayer

Intercessory prayer is a gift we give others. For parents, it’s one of the most important things you can do for your children. Intercession differs from supplication, because supplication is mostly asking for things for yourself. When we pray for our own needs, we may be expected to act and to cooperate with God’s good plans for our lives. But intercession is different. Intercession is asking for others and implies the need for Divine intervention. Often when praying for others we are praying over events and situations and people over which we have no control. Therefore, in intercession, we are often the most dependent on the power of God. 

“The deepest convictions of God's prayer-answering are therefore wrought in cases where, in the nature of things, we are precluded from all activity in promoting the result. The Word of God teaches us that intercession with God is most necessary in cases where man is most powerless.”

RA Torrey 

And as we all know, when we are most helpless, there is more reason to pray. If you have not yet run up against helplessness in parenting, you will. 

As we look back in our lives, we can see that so many of the biggest life events, changes and circumstances were completely unexpected. As were so many of the blessings. Why is this significant to talking about intercessory prayer, especially for our children? Because if we polled all of you, you would likely agree that life rarely goes according to our plans. But one thing we can be certain of—it goes according to God’s plan, 100% of the time.

Intercessory prayer is a way of equipping and undergirding our kids for God’s plan for their lives, which will twist and turn in ways they cannot fathom. We cannot predict their futures, but we can help prepare them for their futures, and one of the most important parts of this preparation is intercessory prayer. 

As I (Camilla) was thinking recently about intercessory prayer, I was praying for a friend’s son and for resolution of a conflict in their family. I was in the middle of some anxiety-inducing circumstances myself, but when praying for my friend and her family I was clear-headed and calm. In that moment, I realized yet another blessing in intercessory prayer: knowing that just as I was calmly praying for my friend, other friends of mine were calmly praying for me! 

As a parent, praying also prepares my heart for launching my kids, for the unexpected, and for shepherding them through the ups and downs. We cannot turn the hearts of our children to God, only the Holy Spirit can do that. But we can pray, and we should not underestimate the power of joining together in prayer for our children. 

This week, let’s make a habit of praying for our children. Because if you are not praying daily for your own children, who is? 

AMEN.