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We welcome back Mr. Rick Verkerk as guest to Wilderness Wanderings. He continues his five-part series on praying for others.

Last time, I pointed out how important faith is when it comes to prayer and that we need to stick to it by praying earnestly. Today I going to talk more about intercessory prayer. Just so we understand, to intercede means to \u201cact between two parties; begging or pleading on behalf of another; mediating\u201d.

Today\u2019s topic is called Standing in the Gap and the Scripture is Luke 11:5-8, \u2018Then Jesus said to them, \u201cSuppose one of you has a friend, and he goes to him at midnight and says, \u2018Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have nothing to set before him.\u2019 Then the one inside answers, \u2018Don\u2019t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children are with me in bed. I can\u2019t get up and give you anything.\u2019 I tell you, though he will not get up and give him the bread because he is his friend, yet because of the man\u2019s boldness he will get up and give him as much as he needs.\u201d

Today\u2019s Scripture reading portrays a \u2018friend-in-the-middle\u2019 who has a \u2018friend-in-need\u2019 and another friend, a \u2018friend with bread\u2019 who has what the \u2018friend-in-need\u2019 is asking for. The \u2018friend-in-the-middle\u2019 can not provide what the \u2018friend-in-need\u2019 asks, so he pleads boldly with his \u2018friend-with-bread\u2019 until he receives what he requests. Once received, he carries it back to the \u2018friend-in need\u2019. He is a go-between. He is standing in the gap that exists between he who needs and he who can give. This is intercession - standing in the gap.\xa0 Intercessors labour before God - the \u2018Friend-with-bread\u2019 - and plead with him on behalf of those who need the bread of heaven. Intercessory prayer is of prime importance. People need our intercessory prayers. Many are hurting, lonely, isolated, unsaved, families are dysfunctional, marriages are in trouble, Churches struggling. They need what only God can give. And God chooses to give His gifts in response to our prayers for others. As much as we need to pray for ourselves, we also need to pray for others as an act of self-giving love and blessing them. Here\u2019s a quote from the book Love to Pray (by Alvin VanderGriend, PrayerShop Publishing, 2008) capturing the importance of intercessory prayer.

\xa0\u201cThings will happen when we pray that wouldn\u2019t have happened if we hadn\u2019t prayed. And things will not happen if we do not pray that would have happened if we had prayed.\u201d

You may have to read it a few times, maybe read it out loud to grasp the significance of this quote.

Are you willing to stand in the gap? Ask God to start preparing your heart and a list of those who He wants you to intercede for.