06/17/2026
INTERCESSION
One accurate meaning for the word intercession is persistence. That is especially true of intercessory prayer. In many situations we can do nothing but pray. In every situation and crisis, prayer is the most effective way to go through the event, and touch God, so that He may work for us. It represents the unwillingness to let this matter pass without being continually brought before God in believing prayer. It means to hold on before God about this thing until it is answered.
All Scripture confirms this truth. Selecting a few Scriptures such as I Timothy 2:1 where the Apostle Paul writes, “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, [and] giving of thanks, be made for all men,” increases faith to continue in believing prayer. Then to the church at Ephesus, the Apostle said in Ephesians 6:18, “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication...” The Apostle continues to speak on the importance of persistent prayer by saying in I Thessalonians 5:17, “Pray without ceasing.” Most people do not pray and many of those who do, just rush into God, say a few words and quickly leave the place of prayer. That is not Biblical intercessory prayer.
Most of our needs are great and always with us. Seemingly with no relief. Yet, we refuse to pray about our need or pray only spasmodically if at all. Concerning one of his desires the Apostle Paul said in I Thessalonians 3:10 that he prayed, “Night and day…exceedingly…” This is ever present prayer for the ever present need. The Prophet Isaiah said of God’s looking at this kind of situation, “And he saw that [there was] no man, and wondered that [there was] no intercessor…” (Isaiah 59:16). II Chronicles 7:14 says “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face…then will I hear from heaven…”
In God’s Word (King James Version), the Word travail in the Merriam Webster Dictionary means “…hard work, especially work that causes pain or requires an extra amount of exertion.” Other translations use words such as toil, labor, anguish, or labor pains rather than travail. Beyond its physical meaning, travail can also have psychological implications, as in ‘the travail of the soul’. Isaiah 53:11 (KJV) uses the word travail, in reference to the agony of soul the Messiah would suffer when He bore the sins of the world. Jesus’ travail is evident in the Garden of Gethsemane, just before His arrest: “Being in agony, he prayed more earnestl; and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.” (Luke 22:44) It will come to everyone.
Jesus, the Prince of Peace, said “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) In Jeremiah 29:11 the Prophet wrote, “For I (God) know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”
Romans 11:33 says God’s ways are past our understanding. This Great God said His thoughts toward us were peaceful. He also tells us that He, at all times, has proven that people’s love and unfailing devotion was to be to Him alone. He tried His people, the nation of Israel as recorded in Deuteronomy 8:2, “And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.” There are other times when God puts us to a time of testing to know our true feelings and heart toward Him. In true intercessory prayer there will be travail for the purpose of proving. But even though God tests us, He floods us before the struggle with the promises given in His Word. In Isaiah 43:2 He promises, “When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.” Another precious promise is in James 1:12, “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.” And yet again, the promise of God is found in I Peter 4:12-13, “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you; But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.”
There are times when our personal actions bring sorrows and troubles. There are other times when God, our Heavenly Father, has a purpose in His ways with us. He deals with us through experiences in which we do not understand His purpose and ways. In true intercessory prayer there will be travail, but we know Who is in full control. Put your need and crisis in God’s Powerful Hands. Don’t let go! Though it seems you are losing grip, persevere. The answer to your prayer and your perseverance may appear to have not been long and strong enough, just be patient and wait. God sums up the conclusion of it all when He speaks of His appearing. Hold on to I Peter 1:7, where the Lord said, “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.” There is a victorious and eternal end to all tribulations, trials, and sorrows.
