“The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” James 5:16b
“Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart.” Luke 18:1
It was a peaceful morning on the porch with my parents. It was the kind of slow moment that invites honest questions. I looked at them and asked something that had been stirring in my heart:
“Why do intercessory prayers matter if God already knows how people need help?”
Their answer was simple, yet it carried a depth that’s still stirring in me. I’ve summarized the reply:
God commands us to pray because it bonds us with Him. He puts us on the team. We may not make the slam dunk, but we CAN play a critical position on the team. Although He could do everything Himself, He wants us to have the blessing of being involved in His work instead of sitting on the bench.”
God could accomplish His will without our help. He’s all-knowing, all-powerful, and independently able to accomplish mighty works without our input. And yet…He chooses to include us, which is where intercessory prayer comes into play.
Prayer is not just about getting answers. It’s about relationship. It’s about alignment. It’s about being on God’s team.
We often feel powerless when the world is on fire. Floods destroy towns. Wars displace families. Illness ravages loved ones. People suffer in silence. We want to help, but we don’t know how—or we can’t. That’s where intercessory prayer places us in the game. It is not a last resort. It is one of the most powerful roles God has given us. Through intercessory prayer, we are not spectators, we are participants.
Jesus said in Luke 18:1, “men ALWAYS ought to pray and not lose heart.” Prayer keeps us from discouragement. It reconnects us with the truth that even when we feel helpless, we are not.
Heaven’s throne is always accessible.
Think about it like a basketball team. Not everyone is meant to take the shot. But without the point guard making the assist, the play wouldn’t happen. Without the inbound pass, the game wouldn’t get started. Sure, God could score the goal without us, but He doesn’t. He draws us in. He teaches us through prayer to share in His heart and His work.
“The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” James 5:16b
“Fervent prayer” isn’t an empty phrase. It’s work. It’s spiritual labor. It has weight in the courts of heaven.
Not all of us can be on the front lines of disaster relief. We may not be able to physically go help with the Guadalupe River flooding. We may not have the strength, resources, or time to serve in person. But that does not mean we are useless. Prayer is not passive. It is active warfare on behalf of those who are suffering.
The truth is, when we pray, God moves. He listens. He answers.
“Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.” Jeremiah 33:3
That’s a promise. Not a maybe. When we come before Him in humility, trusting that He is good and able, He responds in ways that go beyond our understanding.
Jesus didn’t just teach prayer—He lived it. One of the most powerful examples comes in John 17, where Jesus prays not only for His disciples, but for “those who will believe in Me through their word” (vs 20). That’s us. Even now, Jesus lives to intercede for us (Hebrews 7:25). He models the role of the intercessor for us. When we intercede, we are walking in His footsteps, joining Him in His ongoing ministry of compassion and mercy.
Intercession makes us more like Jesus, because it builds compassion!
When you pray for someone suffering—really pray—you start to carry their burdens in your heart. You can’t help but feel their pain more deeply. Intercession changes the person who prays. It expands our empathy. It teaches us to see others the way God does—not just as broken, but as beloved. Not just as victims, but as people God longs to redeem and restore.
We are not powerless—we are positioned to work out our role on the team!
If you’ve ever felt like your role in God’s kingdom was small or unimportant, think again. When you pray for others, you’re standing in the gap. You are a watchman on the wall. Your prayers may be the very thing that tips the balance in a person’s life. There are people who may never know you prayed for them—but heaven knows. And one day, when the full story is told, we’ll see just how powerful those hidden prayers were.
Reflection Thought:
You may not be able to show up in person, but you can always show up in prayer. God doesn’t call ANYONE to sit on the sidelines—He wants you in the game.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank You for the sacred privilege of intercession. Thank You for inviting us into Your holy work through prayer. Teach us to pray with faith, with consistency, and with love. Help us not to lose heart when we cannot go, but to stand firm, knowing we can always pray. Let our prayers reach where our hands cannot. Let our hearts carry the burdens of others with compassion and power. And may You receive all the glory for the victories won through prayer. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
