"Praying with Solomon"

We don’t hear much about prayers of intercession these days. In years gone by I would hear, on occasion, someone referred to as ‘an intercessor.’ I understood that to mean ‘someone who would stay in prayer on someone’s behalf until they felt that burden lift.’

I had the assumption, as a youngster growing up around lots of women who were truly 'prayer warriors,' that an 'intercessor' was one of these ladies who happened to be particularly good at begging God.

I think it's a bit difficult today to identify very many folks in Christian circles who are given to prayer. I hear more about people of prayer in Muslim communities of faith and Orthodox Jewish communities of faith than I do among Christians.

I accept my part of the blame and responsibility for the growing need among the Christian community to understand the great and dynamic role intercessory prayer can have in a person's life.

When we read Solomon's prayer in II Chronicles chapter 6 it is evident that Solomon knew how to pray a prayer of intercession.

It is evident from this passage that intercessory prayer was not, and is not, 'begging God.'

In fact, it is quite evident from Solomon's prayer that he recognized the need of analyzing and admitting, situation by situation, the sins and failures of the people that would bring them to the regular and desperate need of God's Grace.

We can learn from that. Our prayers of intercession must be open confession to God not only of our sins and failures but also the sins and failures of those for whom we are interceding.

God isn't interested in hearing about how "he's really a good boy who just got in with the wrong crowd..." If that's how you intend to 'intercede' don't waste your time and breath.

Get real...get honest. Lay it all out before God, understanding that we can't beg nor coerce God.

Solomon's prayer was a very clear "if/then" statement - and so was God's response in chapter 7:14 "..if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin.."

Amazing how those "if/then" things work with God.

The hoped for result of our intercession should be the establishment of Grace in the life of the one/ones for whom we are interceding. They will have their own personal role and responsibility in that happening, but we might be instrumental through the power of the Holy Spirit by the prayers that we pray.