Intentional or Intercessory Prayer

Some days I feel that I have little, if anything to contribute to the world in the face of the challenging global situation of 2025. But then I remember that I can pray for people, the earth community, and even the harshest of situations.

I was reminded of this when a blog reader sent me a message saying, "There is so, so much to pray for--others, the world, and ourselves." Amen, I breathed after reading her message and then felt the need to write this blog about intentional or intercessory prayer.

There have been times when I've struggled to pray for myself or my family members and relied on others to pray for us. Knowing that people were praying brought me consolation and hope. It took the pressure off, so that I could just rest in the knowing that we were being held by God.

Praying for others makes me feel connected to those for whom I'm praying for. I feel like I'm doing something, contributing somehow. It reminds me of how interconnected and interdependent we all are.

Recently there's been so much bad news that I often feel a need to pray for the people effected--those who've been laid off, deported or detained, especially those who haven't had due process, people punished for speaking truth to unjust power, those who are hurting or fearful, and even the people who are blind to the truth.

Occasionally, when I have the strength, I pray for leaders who are corrupt, those who have made inhumane and unjust decisions. And with the Spirit's help, I do my best to pray for leaders who constantly lie and insult others.

In my experience, prayer works. No one really knows how it works. Even so, I trust that God, Love is with us in all times and places, especially in tough times. So, I pray intentionally for people, the world's geopolitical situations, the entire earth community. And I invite you to consider doing the same.

On the video, today's prayer practice will invite you into praying for a person or situation, by holding them in the light of God's healing presence. It is adapted from an exercise by Teresa A. Blythe, [1].

1. Teresa Blythe, 50 Ways to Pray: Practice from Many Traditions and Times, Abingdon Press, Nashville, TN, 2006, (124).

This blog is dedicated to the memory of Maureen Fowler, a beloved spiritual mentor.