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Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Prayer Moves The Hand Of GOD !!!!! "Fervent Effectual Prayers Avails MUCH "


Prayer of Intercession

Genesis 18:22-33 (Abraham); 1 Kings 18:41-46 (Elijah); 2 Kings 4:32-36 (Elisha); Acts 12:1-18 (The early church)
To intercede means to plead or mediate on behalf of another person. Intercessory prayer means praying earnestly for the needs of others, and seeking God's will for their life. We are called to intercede for others, just as Jesus is interceding for us (Hebrews 7: 25).

Six Essentials of Effective Intercessory Prayer
  • Be Sincere
    Prayer is a sacred responsibility, and we need to treat it as such. Samuel told the Israelites, "Far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray for you." (1 Samuel 12:23)
  • Be Discreet
    If you've ever had details of your personal life spread all over church, you know how devastating a little gossip can be. Here's a simple rule for any effective intercessor. Assume every prayer request offered by a friend is for your ears only, even if they don't specifically say so. If you belong to a prayer group, you might ask the person if they mind you sharing their request so others can pray, too. Even if they respond positively, refrain from telling the group any more than is necessary.
  • Be SensitiveOften, when people have just suffered a traumatic event, they're exhausted with having to retell their story to every person who asks. While we want to demonstrate concern for others, there's no reason to make them relive the ordeal by asking a lot of questions. All we really need to do is let them know we love them, and we're praying.
  • Be EncouragingAn encouraging card or a sympathetic whisper promising to pray for someone in pain can brighten a dreary day and lift a weary heart. A simple expression of concern can be an incredible source of encouragement to anyone going through a physical, spiritual, or emotional struggle. And through the week, when they become discouraged, they can remind themselves that "Someone is praying for me!"
  • Be Organised
    So often we glibly promise to pray for someone - and we really mean it - but somehow we simply fail to do so. When you make a commitment to pray for someone, make a note of it. Amid the pressures of daily life, prayer often gets pushed to the back burner. The whispers of our conscience can be drowned by the screams of a hungry baby or the demands of a cranky boss. But no matter what your work schedule is, you can find time to pray.
  • Be Committed
    If you consistently have trouble making time for prayer, find a partner and hold each other accountable. Even if you don't have the time to pray together, just remind each other regularly of your commitment to pray. In promising to pray for someone, you've made a sacred commitment. It's a solemn responsibility - with incredible rewards.

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