Asking God for the Words to Pray

You may wonder how I know these prayers came from the Lord.  First, they line up with Scripture.  Second, they always line up with the heart of the person; even if I have no idea why as I’m praying.  Without hesitation, the person will share that this was what was needed.  Sometimes, they share why and others not.  It is enough to know that they heard truth and felt connected to God.

There are other days though where I am interceding for leaders and field missionaries and they are not present.  I cannot ask for their input.  I may not even know what the past week or two has brought into their lives.  This is when I must go to God and ask him, “How can I best pray for this person today?”

Often he will lead me to a particular Scripture verse that I can pray for them.  Sometimes, the prayers will just begin to flow and other times, I wait in silence.  No Scripture verse comes flashing into my mind and no prayers seem ready to flow out of my mouth.  It is only silence. 

This is when I must wait.  Wait in the silence.  Don’t rush ahead.  If I’m honest, that’s the most tempting thing to do – to rush ahead to pray for someone else, to do something productive.  However, God has taught me that he is at work when I am waiting.  Perhaps God is working on something in me before he is willing to place their prayer needs in my hands.  Maybe, he just wants me to be in his presence and to feel the power of his love.

Part of praying in intercession is listening deeply.  God may be asking me to listen deeply to him before moving ahead in prayer.  How can I listen well if my heart is not quieted before him?  How can I truly feel and grasp his love and his Holy presence if I am rushing ahead?

Have you found yourself in this situation?  If so, remember me.  Know that you are not alone when God asks you to simply wait quietly for him to guide you.  We often ask for wisdom, don’t we?  There is an old adage that says, “Wisdom comes with age.”  That means it doesn’t always come quickly.  It comes in time.  So, today, let’s not rush through times of intercessory prayer.  Let’s sit in God’s presence awhile.  When he knows we’re ready to receive, he will give to us what we need.  Then….we will pray and intercede for another with the words God wants us to pray.

By Jacqui - One of God's Intercessors