Intercession With weekly focus
As the Body of Christ we have been given the powerful tool of Intercession as a means by which we can serve one another. Scripture is rich with promises of God as provider, peace, healer, victory and so much more. Prayers of Intercession have been offered by God’s people for centuries as a means to be present with God and one another in the midst of need. In intercession we are reminded of both our need for God and His availability to us.
Often times the needs of our brother’s and sisters in Christ are overwhelming and we are left feeling powerless to help. Prayers of Intercession can get demoted to a supporting role to our own strengths if we aren’t careful and we can get quick to “the work” in our own strength without even stopping to consider is the work we are doing helpful, and getting in the way of God’s intended purposes.
Over the month of August my prayer is that we return to the reality that God’s strength is made perfect not in our best efforts but in our weakness. This prayer practice is going to invite us to vulnerable with one another in declaring our needs to one another, and vulnerable in our offering of prayers for one another and our receiving of prayers from one another. Intercession truly offers us a way to be present with God with and for others.
Over the next four weeks:
Set aside 10-15 minutes each day (minimum of 5 days per week) and pray for the needs of the people within your Community Group. Feel free to use the provided Prayer Cards to collect prayer requests so that you can Intercede for them throughout the week. Another great way to do this is through the Echo Prayer App, if thats more convenient for you and your Community Group.
Each week will have a specific focus and that focus is listed below. As we consider needs we have and offer them to our Group for prayer and encourage our Group participants to do the same use this weekly focus to help identify needs and have categories for learning the various ways we can be interceding for one another. This is by no means an exhaustive list of the ways God shows up for his people, but these are some common ways we can be interceding for one another throughout the weeks of this practice, and hopefully beyond!
As you gather with your Community Group pray for one another. My encouragement is to systematically work through the members of your group and pray specifically for them and their needs. Speak truthful affirmations of their worth, value & dignity over them and lay hands on them. You may consider selecting 2-4 members of your group each Community Group gathering to pray specifically for each member of the group throughout the month of August. Of course, these specific’s may need to be adjusted depending on the size of your Community Group. This is going to feel uncomfortable and be vulnerable for you and your Group. Pause, breath, invite the help of the Holy Spirit and take your time in learning how to Intercede for one another.
Week 1: Prayer for Provision · Jehovah-Jireh
Week 2: Prayer for Healing · Jehovah-Rapha
Week 3: Prayer for Victory & Salvation · Jehovah-Nissi
Week 4: Prayer for Peace · Jehovah-Shalom
MONTHLY SCRIPTURE READING PLAN
This Scripture reading Plan works alongside the Prayer Practice. It includes passages selected to coincide with the Prayer Practices of each month and the discussions you’ll be having within your Community Group.
For August, there will not be any selected readings. Rather each week will have a specific prayer focus and we’ll provide PRAYER CARDS for you to download and use to keep you focused during these specific weeks of guided prayer.
August · Being with God for Others · Intercession
August 1st - August 7th
Prayers for Provision · Jehovah-Jireh
Promises from Scripture
Genesis 22:1-14 · Psalms 34:8-10 · Matthew 6:25-34 · Luke 12:22-34 · Philippians 4:15-20
August 8th - August 14th
Prayers for Healing · Jehovah-Rapha
Promises from Scripture
Exodus 15:22-26 · Jeremiah 30:12-17 · Mark 5:21-34 · 1 Peter 2:21-25 · Revelations 21:1-5
August 15th - August 21st
Prayers for Victory & Salvation · Jehovah-Nissi
Promises from Scripture
Exodus · 17:8-15 · Psalms 3 · John 16:25-33 · 1 Corinthians 10:12-13 · Romans 8:31-39
August 22nd - August 28th
Prayers for Peace · Jehovah-Shalom
Promises from Scripture
Judges 6:11-24 · Psalm 4 · John 14:18-31 · Philippians 4:6-8 · Romans 12:17-21
WEEKLY DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
The hope is not that you answer every single question every single week. Some weeks you may practice the type of prayer together using the assigned practice for the month. Other weeks you may simply discuss the journey as a whole and the ways God is working within the participants of your Community Group through this prayer practice. Some weeks you may use the discussion questions to help guide your conversations as you gather with your Community Group each week. You do not have to use the questions exactly how they are given or in the order they are given. Select some for your discussions as you see fit and need. EXAMPLE LITURGY FOR GROUP GATHERINGS.
August Weekly Discussion Questions:
August 1st - August 7th
Do you find it more difficult to receive prayer from others or to offer prayer for others? Why do you think that is?
In what ways have you experienced the provision of God in your life or through the lives of others?
What are the areas of your life where you need the provision of God in Christ Jesus?
How might God be inviting you to be the provision in meeting someone's need through the power of the Holy Spirit?
August 8th - August 14th
In what ways have you experienced the healing of God in your life or through the lives of others?
What are the areas of your life where you need the healing of God in Christ Jesus?
Who are the people in your life that need the salvation of God in Christ Jesus?
August 15th - August 21st
In what ways have you experienced the victory of God in your life or through the lives of others?
What are the areas of your life where you need the victory of God in Christ Jesus?
Who are the people in your life that need the salvation of God in Christ Jesus?
How might God be inviting you to become a declarer of Christ’s victorious power & salvation through the power of the Holy Spirit?
August 22nd - August 28th
In what ways have you experienced the peace of God in your life or through the lives of others?
What are the areas of your life that need the peace of God?
Who are the people in your life that need the peace of God?
How might God be inviting you to become a peacemaker through the power of the Holy Spirit?