30 January | Teens
«Then he said, “If now I have found grace in Your sight, O Lord, let my Lord, I pray, go among us, even though we are a stiff-necked people; and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us as Your inheritance.” » Exodus 34:9
Have you ever prayed for someone? That is called intercessory prayer, and it is very powerful. Intercessory prayer is to ask God for something very important in someone else's place, as if we were a messenger carrying a special request to Him. Therefore, when we pray for other people, as Moses did for the people of Israel, we are asking God to help and bless them, as if they were making that request themselves. Moses knew that the people had disobeyed God, but even so, he asked God to forgive them: “Even though we are a stiff-necked people; and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us as Your inheritance.”
Intercessory prayer is powerful because it shows our love and concern for others. Praying for others in this way would be like blowing out balloons full of affection and releasing them to God so He can take care of those we love. The truth is that God respects everyone's freedom, so when we pray for someone, we are giving God more room to work in that person's life. See how important praying for others is? Our prayers can change the lives of those we love!
Take Action
Make a list of five friends or relatives. For a month, pray for these people every day. Ask God to take care of them, bless them and help them with whatever they need. At the end of the month, tell them that you prayed for them and ask them if they felt any difference during that time. You will be amazed at the power of your prayers!