Intercessory Prayer Rules

Hear from God

God knows what people need before people ask him.(Matthew 6:32b) Before beginning intercessory prayer, praise God and ask him to remove any distractions that would interfere with the prayer time.

Jesus said that Christians should love the Lord with all their soul and strength. (Matthew 22:37). When Jesus is the Lord of the lives of intercessors, the intercessors can petition God on behalf of others with a right heart. Intercessors must repent of any sin so that the devil does not have the opportunity to oppose their prayers. Effective intercessors also need to ask for the spiritual gift of a faith that can move mountains. (Matthew 19:20)

The names and details about the people for whom someone offers an intercessory prayer can be collected and written down. This helps intercessors pray in a way that addresses specific needs. State prayers in simple terms with few words. For example, when Mary approached her son Jesus because the wine had run out at a wedding they were attending, she only stated that there was no more wine.(John 2:3) The petitioner can express prayers in whatever words she feels like saying.

Intercessory prayer groups can be a powerful weapon against the forces of darkness, as each individual has different spiritual gifts to offer during a time of prayer. The group may be small, and it must be committed to dedicating time to intercessory prayer and be unified in order to be effective. A group can support each other in faith .A sense of confidentiality is needed so that whatever is said in the room, stays in the room.

Intercessory prayer demands work, time, pain and spiritual warfare from intercessors. An intercessor may need to simplify his lifestyle, deny himself indulgence in certain desires and commit to follow the Holy Spirit's lead. Petitioners also need to develop a flexible approach to intercessory prayer that recognizes that there may be exceptions to the rules. Added new elements such as scriptural passages, praise, and thanksgiving keep intercessory prayer fresh instead of mechanical and boring.