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Learning to Intercede by Faith in Christ

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In his book Teach Me to Pray (Minneapolis: Bethany House, 2002), Andrew Murray writes that Christ’s “life in us is an ever-praying life, if we only trust him for it” (page 8). I have really benefited from meditating on this statement, but I do want to offer a bit of nuance.

On the one hand, Christ lives an ever-praying life for us whether we are specifically trusting him for that or not. Of course, to know him is to cling to him by faith, but his intercession for us is not tied to our direct consciousness of the same at any given moment.

As the author of Hebrews writes, “The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them” (Hebrews 7:23-25, emphasis mine). This verse makes no mention of our faith, for our faith is not necessary to his intercession on our behalf.

However, on the other hand, Murray was more specifically referring to Christ’s life of intercession in us, and for this we must trust, and more so, learn to trust in every moment. To pray without ceasing is to have faith without ceasing that Christ is not only praying for us but also praying in us for others. That is, he is teaching us ever to live as he ever lives.

Therefore, in order to advance in the ministry of intercession (that is, praying for others), we must learn to live by faith in Christ. The burden of intercession is not our burden, rather, our burden is to look to Jesus, inquire of Jesus, and open our hearts and minds so that Jesus can teach us the joy and privilege of interceding for others.

And how are we to do this? I have several, related answers: First, we must make time for intercession. We can, of course, pray wherever we are, but we must first set aside at least 15 or 30 minutes per day to pray for others so that we can learn how to do so.

Second, we should begin by praying Scriptural prayers over the lives of others. For example, start with Jesus’ model prayer in Matthew 6:9-13 or Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 3:14-21. As we pray such prayers over the lives of specific people, Jesus teaches us to pray in ways that are pleasing to him.

Third, as we grow in the habit of intercession, we can boldly ask people how we can pray for them. I recommend first building this habit into your life, though, so that you will not be found lying when you say, “I’ll pray for you about that.”

Fourth, as we learn to pray biblical and intelligent prayers for people, we can directly ask Jesus to teach us how to pray for a person. Since he ever lives to intercede for them as well, you can assume that he is already praying for them in a particular way. Prayer gets powerful and effective when our prayers align with Jesus’ prayers. So ask him, and be silent long enough so that he can speak to you by the Holy Spirit. The Lord will never guide you to pray in a way contrary to Scripture, but I have learned over the years that he will indeed guide you to pray if you ask him.

May the Lord give us great joy as we meditate on the fact that he ever lives to intercede for us, and as he teaches us how to join in this most-awesome of works by faith in his Name!


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