“When we intercede in prayer for our brothers and sisters, we enter into Christ’s work in their lives.”
Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – April 28, 2026
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. James 5:16
A little over a month ago, my husband and I set out for India with our two small children in tow. The purpose of the trip was to collect our third child, our little boy whom we adopted and had eagerly and faithfully waded through the process for five years. But we hadn’t a clue what the journey would be like. Nothing could have prepared us for the experience of finally bringing him into our family. We felt so incredibly out of our depth – our energy too low, our hearts too small to cope with the bigness of the situation or the enormity of our children’s needs. Our insufficiency would have been enough to crush us at moments had it not been for one thing, which often came in the form of a ping on one of our phones in the wee hours of the night with a simple message: “I’m praying.” “He is faithful.” “We are with you in prayer.” The faithful prayers of our dear brothers and sisters in Christ were a life boat to us when we could tread no longer. God’s sustaining grace manifested itself so palpably in those prayers, we were left in no doubt that he was working through them, strengthening us for the task at hand.
As Christ-followers, we all know praying for others is a good thing to do. But how lightly many of us (myself included) toss out promises to pray for someone’s need without really weighing the responsibility. After all, God already knows the outcome. He is in control. Does it really make a difference if we remember to pray or not? Until I experienced being on the receiving end of others’ prayers while in dire need, I might have asked similar questions. But now it is clear to me that when we’re commanded to intercede for others in Scripture, it’s meant as more than just a thoughtful gesture. When we bring the needs of others in prayer before the Almighty, we are in the very truest sense entering into the work he is doing in those others’ lives. We become the conduits of his peace and comfort and encouragement. This is the Body of Christ functioning as it was meant to, for if one is hurting, we all hurt. If one rejoices, we all rejoice (1 Corinthians 12:26).
Intercessory prayer is the ultimate Christ-like posture, for Christ is our Great Mediator before the Father, and did he not command his disciples to love one another as he has loved us? What an honor it is to come alongside Christ the King before the Throne of Grace to lift up the needs of others as well as our own. What manna in the wilderness we receive when blessed and sustained by the faithful prayers of others.
Prayer
Loving Father, make me a person of prayer, both for myself and on behalf of others. Help me to have the humility to ask others to enter into prayer for me, that your grace may manifest in my life through your Body the Church. In Christ our mediator’s name. Amen.
Application
Seek out one person this week whom you will commit to praying for daily. Be sure to keep that commitment and let them know that you are praying, which is a huge encouragement.
Related Reading
Ezekiel 22:30; Ephesians 6:18; 1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 7:25
Worship Resource
Celtic Worship feat. Zerua Music: I Need Thee
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