Called to Stand in the Gap: Embracing Our Role in Spiritual Intercession

The Spirit of the Lord prompted me to write about the model prayer that Jesus taught His disciples to pray. This is called a model prayer for the disciples and every Christian; Jesus prayer (the Lord’s prayer) is in John, chapter 17.

Around 1985, I was asked to lead a prayer group and a couple of years later, a friend who was a member of another church asked me to come to their 5:30 am prayer group.

Many times, I didn’t know the reason that the Lord had me in different situations but realized later this was God’s doing. After attending the prayer group, I also started attending the church and finally I became a member. After being at the church for awhile, Larry Lea a former pastor and author known for his work in the prayer movement had a prayer conference in Greensboro, and I was blessed to attend.

The gift of Intercession (Helps) was quite obvious, and through the gift mighty hidden things that were prayed and revealed came to pass, therefore, the seriousness of how powerful intercessory is became more of a reality to me. Intercessory prayer has had a strong presence in my from then until now and it continues to get stronger and will until the Lord calls me home.

It has been and still is being revealed to me in various ways about who, what and specific situations to pray for though dreams, visions, and promptings by the Holy Spirit- this also comes with my prophetic office. Initially I thought is was a hard task to intercede for what was revealed to me to pray for, but as I grew in my walk with the Lord, it was an honor and privilege to stand in the gap. Hindsight in 1991, it was apparent that the Lord revealed to one pastor where I was a member of the church to have me pray for ladies during altar prayer.

I also have three sisters who are my prayer partners; we have been praying on the phone lines for almost twenty five years at five o’clock am four days a week; another sister and I have been praying weekly. We are passionate about interceding on behalf of others. We started praying on Sunday in a room before the church service began.

FYI- Many people know that I live almost five hundred miles from my prayer warrior sisters.

Someone else had asked one of the sisters to join an international prayer group, but I was not led to join. However, the Lord used these people to help us get a jumpstart intercessory prayer.

A couple of weeks ago the Spirit revealed to me to pray the “Model Prayer” that Jesus taught His disciples. It was confirmed and shared with my prayer partners. Afterward the Spirit brought to my memory the prayer directive (instruction on how to pray), that I learned from Larry Lea’s prayer conference around 1986. That was forty years ago!

We are to model or follow Jesus’ example in conducting ourselves. For many years, I heard all kinds of prayers of which some do not include the model prayer (old saying- the Lord’s prayer).

Tomorrow, the “Model Prayer”

Intercessory Prayer Warriors

Betty A. Burnett ~ burnettministries.org