9 Qualities of an Effective Intercessor
7. Leadership ability.In his book Wind and Fire, Bruce Larson points out some interesting facts about sandhill cranes:
“These large birds that fly great distances across continents have three remarkable qualities. First, they rotate leadership. No one bird stays out in front all the time.
Second, they choose leaders who can handle turbulence. And then, all during the time one bird leads, the rest honk their affirmation.
“That’s not a bad model for the church. Certainly we need leaders who can handle turbulence and who are aware that leadership ought to be shared. But most of all, we need a church where we all honk encouragement.
It is safe to say that some of our prayer assignments are also being borne by other Christians. Let’s guard our hearts against feeling that we—and our prayers—are “the only reasons” something happens.
The apostle Paul warned us that we are “not to think of [ourselves] more highly than [we] ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith” (Rom. 12:3).
8. High moral character. A Buddhist monk in Sri Lanka, who was acquainted with both Christianity and Buddhism, was once asked what he thought was the great difference between the two. He replied, “There is much that is good in each of them, and probably in all religions.
“But what seems to me to be the greatest difference is that you Christians know what is right and have the power to do it, while we Buddhists know what is right but have not any such power.”
The monk was right. True freedom is not the right to do as we please. It is the power to do what is right!
A lawyer who lived in the chambers of the temple told a story about an old gray-haired man in the room next to his who knelt down every night and said his prayers aloud. The partition between their rooms was thin, and he heard what the old man said quite distinctly. He was greatly surprised to hear him always say this prayer: “Lord, make me a good boy.”
This may seem rather ludicrous. But if you think of it, you will be touched by its beauty. Long years before when, as a little child, that old man had knelt at his mother’s knee, she had taught him this petition, “Lord, make me a good boy.”
And through the years with their trials and temptations, he still felt the need of offering that cry in the old, simple language of childhood, knowing that in the sight of the ageless God he was still a child.
Just as a good advocate should be a person of high moral character, an effective intercessor must also live a holy life of high moral character.
9. A team player. Corporate intercession is almost an unknown art. In most places it is individual intercession in a corporate setting. Thankfully, the church is beginning to understand how to gather as a group and approach God as one person!
We are also beginning to network as intercessors. We realize that the more testimonies we have in court, the stronger our case will be. We are grateful for the 61 personal intercessors who faithfully serve us and our ministry in prayer. We take seriously the hours they spend in court on our behalf.
We never cease to be amazed at the self-discipline exerted by intercessors. The abilities to work well under pressure and with minimal supervision are grace gifts that God has given most intercessors. People of prayer, we admire your faithfulness to voluntarily spend the time you do in prayer on behalf of others.
We can experience transformation of our families, cities and nations if we will be willing to labor together.
Eddie Smith is the founder and president of the U.S. Prayer Center, and his wife, Alice, is the executive director. Eddie also coordinates Pray USA!, an annual fasting and prayer initiative. Alice is an intercessor, conference speaker and author. This article is from their book Spiritual Advocates (Charisma House).
