Intercessory Prayer and Fasting

Intercessory Prayer

There are three characteristics in intercessory prayer:
1. Identification (feelings of connection and empathy)
2. Sacrifice
3. Authority (with God through the Holy Spirit)
Here are six solid points to get us started in how to pray for others:
1. Pray that they know God’s Will for their lives
2. Pray that they would do God’s Will in their lives (through the process of knowledge, attitude and behavior)
3. Pray for productivity in their lives
4. Pray for them to have a growing relationship with God
5. Pray for power in their lives
6. Pray for them to have a right attitude

Fasting

When used with prayer, fasting is incredibly powerful. Here is a list of several biblical insights into spiritual needs for fasting:
1. It is a way to truly humble oneself
2. It brings revelation by the Holy Spirit resulting in brokenness, repentance, change, and a crucial means for personal revival
3. It helps us better understand the World of God by making it more meaningful, vital and practical
4. It transforms prayer into a richer and more personal experience
5. It can result in a dynamic personal revival
6. It can restore the loss of one’s first love for the Lord.

How does fasting help? It brings us to submission, a holy brokenness, resulting in inner peace and self-control, it renews spiritual vision and faith, and inspires determination to follow God’s revealed plan for our life.


Partners in Prayer by John Maxwell and special section on fasting by Bill Bright.